Real Madrid v Almeria LIVE - Karim Benzema hat-trick gives La Liga champions lead

It feels like the score will be decided by what Real want to do, rather than anything the hosts are doing.

Benzema now has 235 La Liga goals, good enough for fourth on the all-time list and one more than Hugo Sanchez.

Benzema scores again but is pointing at the assister for a reason. Rodrygo produces an extraordinary piece of skill to beat Costa when his momentum was taking him out of play, then shrugs off the defender to set up Benzema to sweep home.

Rodrygo lines up a free kick 20 yards from goal, right of centre. It is perhaps a bit too close and so it proves as the wall jumps and blocks the Brazilian's shot.

Benzema plays a one-two with Vinicus - the return ball a lovely backheel - and shoots, but it is straight at Martinez.

That was Benzema's 15th goal of the La Liga season and Vinicius' ninth assist.

It opens up for Ramazani to run at the Madrid defence so he does. but when the shot comes the Belgian lashes over.

Vinicius crosses for Benzema again and this time he does score! Vinicius collects a long pass, beats Mendes and then crosses with the outside of his boot for Benzema to tap in from close range.

Vinicius finds room to cross in the direction of Benzema, but the forward is crowded out and can only bundle the ball at the goalkeeper.

The visitors have barely had a kick so far.

We're underway at the Bernabeu.

Almeria in black with blue decoration, Real Madrid all in white.

Almeria have conceded 19 goals in their last three away matches against Real Madrid.

With warm-ups done, kick-off is now just a few minutes away. A reminder of the big team news - Benzema and Courtois are back for Real Madrid, while Almeria make eight changes and perhaps have an eye on other fixtures.

The Getafe win was Almeria's first road victory of the La Liga season. They have picked up seven points on their travels, the second-worst record in the division.

Almeria begin this game two points and three places above the relegation zone. They enter this match fresh from a huge away win in midweek - 2-1 at Getafe - with Luis Suarez scoring both the goals.

That's the Colombian striker on loan from Marseille, not the controversial Uruguayan who was a pest in his days at Real's rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. This particular Suarez is only on the bench today.

Real Madrid are unbeaten in the last 11 games between these two. Almeria's last win came in the 2007-08 season and they have never tasted victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid's title defence has rather dissolved in recent weeks, summed up by a shocking 4-2 defeat at Girona in the week. They are 11 points behind Barcelona, who need just 11 points from their final seven games to be sure of the title.

Much attention in the capital has therefore turned to the Champions League semi-final versus Manchester City, the first leg of which comes three days after Real are due to contest the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna.

Los Blancos left Almeria with a 2-1 victory earlier in the season. Having trailed at the interval, Lucas Vazquez and David Alaba scored to complete a comeback.

Despite winning last time out, Almeria manager Rubu makes wholesale changes. That includes an entirely new attack of Largie Ramazani, Lazaro and Arnau Puigmal. They have scored just five goals between them this season.

A tactical masterplan, or just resting Almeria's best players for games they have a better chance of winning? We will see.

Almeria: Martinez, Mendes, Chumi, Ely, Akieme, de la Hoz, Costa, Puigmal, Portillo, Lazaro, Ramazani.

Karim Benzema has returned to fitness and the Real Madrid line-up. Shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois is also back in the team, having not faced Girona, as Carlo Ancelotti makes six changes in total including reverting to makeshift fullbacks. Luca Modric is absent from the squad with a thigh injury.

Real Madrid: Courtois, Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga, Kroos, Ceballos, Tchouameni, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema.