Malaga vs. Real Madrid: Score, Grades and Reaction from La Liga Game

Real Madrid set a new club record on Saturday with their 16th successive victory in all competitions, as they beat Malaga 2-1 at La Rosaleda.

Goals from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in either half clinched the landmark win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, although a brilliant goalkeeping display from Carlos Kameni kept the game close until the final minutes—with Malaga having chances of their own to end Real’s historic run.

Isco, returning to face his former club, was also sent off in the closing moments, although Roque Santa Cruz’s header ultimately came too late to spoil a historic night for the visitors.

"It's always a very tough match here," Real full-back Marcelo told Spanish television, via Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail) after the game.

"We managed to beat the record but with a lot of work and commitment from the team. Our main objective is to carry on winning each game."

"

GOAL. Gareth Bale makes it 2-0 for Real Madrid http://t.co/f10IH0Ka94

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) November 29, 2014"

Almost from the first whistle, Real pushed forward in customary fashion, with Kameni forced into near-immediate action as he denied Bale, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo in quick succession. Malaga had very little threat at the other end, although the aerially dominant Santa Cruz did plant a header on target that Iker Casillas had to palm away.

It ultimately took 18 minutes for Real to break the deadlock, with Benzema the man to apply the finishing touch. Ronaldo was the architect of the goal, the No. 7 running down the flank on the counter-attack before squaring for his strike partner to turn home from close range.

That strike settled the visitors, although it also seemed to galvanise the home side into action. Sergi Darder hit the post with a strike from well outside the box, before Casillas nearly fumbled a similarly speculative effort from Duda into his own net.

In the second half, Real continued to look dangerous on the attack, with only Kameni’s brilliance keeping the scoreline so close. The goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves to deny Ronaldo and Bale, with the pick of them coming as he turned away Ronaldo’s powerful effort from 10 yards out, when it seemed a foregone conclusion the Portuguese would score.

It did not seem to be the star’s night, although moments later he would again play a key part in the goal that would ultimately clinch victory. Marcelo’s long ball seemed to carry little imminent danger, but Ronaldo saw Bale breaking in behind him and flicked the ball on for the Welshman brilliantly.

The world’s most expensive player ran on to the flick and powered a solid right-foot shot into the net, although Kameni will wonder if this was one occasion when he could have done better.

That was not it for the drama, as Real finally seemed to show a bit of weakness in defence. Isco, having earlier picked up a needless yellow card, was wrongly dismissed after stealing the ball away from Samuel Castillejo; the ex-Malaga star cheered off to cries of “Isco! Isco!” in a nice show of respect from the home supporters.

The game itself seemed to be over as a contest by that point, especially after Ancelotti brought on Asier Illarramendi for Benzema to shore things up in midfield. Despite those defensive changes, the result was fleetingly brought into doubt when Santa Cruz powered home Arthur Boka's pinpoint cross from close range in injury time.

There was barely a minute left on the clock, however, and Real had more than enough wherewithal to see that out.

"I think Madrid deserved the victory," Kameni acknowledged. "We showed today that we deserve a lot of credit and we have achieved great things in the opening part of the season."

A 16th successive victory is a new club record for Real—this was a close-fought win but, when looking at the fixtures ahead for Ancelotti’s side, it is not hard to imagine that this historic streak may yet be extended further. 

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Player Ratings

Player	Rating
Carlos Kameni	9
Weligton	7
Roberto Rosales	7
Sergio Sanchez	7
Arthur Boka	7
Samu	7
Duda	7
Recio	6
Samuel Castillejo	7
Sergi Darder	8
Roque Santa Cruz	7
Substitutions
Ricardo Horta	7
Marcos Angeleri	6
Juanpi	6

Player	Rating
Iker Casillas	6
Dani Carvajal	7
Pepe	7
Sergio Ramos	7
Marcelo	7
Toni Kroos	7
James Rodriguez	6
Isco	7
Gareth Bale	6
Karim Benzema	7
Cristiano Ronaldo	8
Substitutions
Asier Illarramendi	6
Raphael Varane	6
Javier Hernandez	6

What's Next?

Real Madrid's next game comes against Cornella in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, before they return to league commitments next Saturday at home to Celta Vigo.

Malaga, meanwhile, face Deportivo la Coruna in the Copa del Rey—and then the same team in the league at the weekend.