Real Madrid vs. Almeria: Score, Grades, Reaction from La Liga

Real Madrid defeated visiting Almeria 3-0 on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu to keep pace with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

James Rodriguez broke the deadlock with an outstanding volley one minute before half-time, and Real doubled their lead through an own goal early in the second half. Alvaro Arbeloa added his side's third in the 84th minute.

The win, Real's sixth straight in La Liga, kept the Blancos two points behind rivals Barcelona with just four games left in the season. Barca defeated Getafe 6-0 on Tuesday to open up a temporary five-point lead, but Real's victory ensured the title race will remain tight for at least another few days.

In order to regain the league title, Carlo Ancelotti's side might well have to win all four of their remaining matches and hope Barcelona slip up at some point. Up next for Real, who are still missing attacking stars Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema through injury, is a tricky trip to Sevilla on Saturday. Barcelona play at last-placed Cordoba the same day.

Meanwhile, the title race might not be the only concern for Real, with Spanish reports (h/t The Guardian) indicating the club could face a transfer ban. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

For the present, however, the title race is the main concern, and Real took control of Wednesday's match from the opening whistle. For all their territorial control, though, los Blancos struggled for much of the first half to break down Almeria's determined resistance.

In the fourth minute, Rodriguez flicked a glancing header just wide of the far post from Arbeloa's cross from deep on the right. Three minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo carved out a chance for himself with a powerful run to the box but saw his low shot saved.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

At the other end, Almeria had a sight of goal in the 15th minute as Mane sliced an audacious effort wide of the post from outside the box.

Ronaldo missed the target with free-kicks in the 28th and 34th minutes as Real sputtered in the offensive third. But just as the match seemed to be drifting into half-time, Real took the lead in spectacular style.

The chance came from almost nothing as Almeria failed to properly clear a Toni Kroos pass aimed for the box. The ball bounced invitingly for Rodriguez, who slammed a superb volley into the top corner from 25 yards.

With that, Real held a 1-0 lead at half-time while Almeria were left to rue a momentary but costly lapse. 

The hosts needed little time to build on their advantage in the second half. In the 49th minute, Real made it 2-0.

Again Almeria were guilty of failing to clear their lines, this time heading away a Kroos corner only as far as Asier Illarramendi, who quickly started a new attack. Real worked the ball around to Jese, who picked out Kroos on the right. The German centred for an unmarked Ronaldo, who likely would have tapped in if Mauro Dos Santos hadn't put into his own net.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

The second goal meant Real were comfortable for the first time on the night, and the match reflected that reality over the next several minutes, which produced little in the way of interest. The hosts made two changes in the 65th minute, with Isco and Lucas Silva replacing Rodriguez and Illarramendi.

Nine minutes later, Javier Hernandez had a chance after latching on to a Ronaldo cross, but the Mexican pushed his first-time shot just wide of the near post.

By the time the match entered the final 10 minutes, the result was beyond doubt, but Real added a third goal in the 84th minute following a fine team move. Isco started the sequence with a vertical pass to Hernandez in the box, and forward crossed into the middle, where Arbeloa poked into the net in front of Ronaldo. 

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Keylor Navas	6.6
Alvaro Arbeloa	8.6
Pepe	7.6
Raphael Varane	7.5
Fabio Coentrao	7.4
Asier Illarramendi	6.8
Toni Kroos	7.7
James Rodriguez	7.7
Jese	6.5
Javier Hernandez	7.5
Cristiano Ronaldo	7.3
Isco (for Rodriguez, 65')	6.6
Lucas Silva (for Illarramendi, 65')	6.4
Nacho (for Varane, 86')	6.2

Reaction

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, via Diario AS (h/t Football Espana):

"

We’re not sure Barca will lose points but we are confident we can win the remaining games.

We’re now in a very important part of the season and every game is most important. I’ll put out the best team to beat Sevilla despite the fact we play Juventus because that game doesn’t matter (as it's not the next one).

Gareth Bale has been training on his own and will work with the team tomorrow. Karim Benzema is still working alone but I think he can travel to Turin.

James Rodriguez? He continues to show his skill and his ability. He’s doing very well.

"

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