Real Madrid defeated Granada 2-1 on Monday night to move within two points of reclaiming the Spanish league title after two quick first-half goals from Ferland Mendy and Karim Benzema kept Madrid four points ahead of second-placed Barcelona with two rounds to go.
Given Real’s superior head-to-head record over Barca, Real require just two points from their final two games, at home to fifth-placed Villarreal on Thursday and at relegation-threatened Leganes on Sunday, to win the league.
Madrid were in control early on in Granada, and Mendy’s first goal since joining the Spanish club this season came from a beautiful angled shot into the top corner after getting past a defender inside the area in the 10th minute.
Benzema who has been Madrid’s best player in a while added to the lead six minutes later by scoring his 19th league goal with a right-footed strike into the far corner.
Granada, who was 10th in the standings, got on the board with a goal by Darwin Machs in the 50th minute and pressured to the end.
The hosts came closest to an equaliser with about five minutes left when Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to make a difficult save and Ramos cleared a shot off the goal line.
https://youtu.be/xsB0yF7uQ-U
“We have to be happy and rest up for Thursday,” says Real boss, Zidane, after his side’s ninth successive win since La Liga resumed in June.
“We will be back training on Tuesday and we will be back on the pitch on Thursday. The final minutes were tough. Granada made us defend a lot in the second half.”
Out of favour forward, Gareth Bale, was once again an unused substitute as Real scored twice in six first-half minutes before the hosts hit back.
Wales forward Bale, who has been at Real since 2013, has started just 12 La Liga matches this season.
He has not played since being substituted in the 2-0 win over Mallorca on 24 June.
Skipper Sergio Ramos made a crucial clearance off the line to deny Ramon Azeez a dramatic equaliser in the closing stages to ensure Madrid continued its perfect start since the La Liga resumed.
La Liga Table after matchday 36
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 36 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 66 | 22 | 44 | 83 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 80 | 36 | 44 | 79 |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 36 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 48 | 26 | 22 | 66 |
| 4 | Sevilla | 36 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 53 | 34 | 19 | 66 |
| 5 | Villarreal | 36 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 57 |
| 6 | Getafe | 36 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 43 | 34 | 9 | 54 |
| 7 | Real Sociedad | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 54 |
| 8 | Athletic Bilbao | 36 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 51 |
| 9 | Valencia | 36 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 45 | 52 | -7 | 50 |
| 10 | Granada | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 46 | 44 | 2 | 50 |
| 11 | Osasuna | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 42 | 51 | -9 | 48 |
| 12 | Levante | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 43 | 51 | -8 | 43 |
| 13 | Real Betis | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 47 | 56 | -9 | 41 |
| 14 | Real Valladolid | 36 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 39 |
| 15 | Eibar | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 36 | 51 | -15 | 39 |
| 16 | Celta Vigo | 36 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 35 | 46 | -11 | 36 |
| 17 | Alaves | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 32 | 53 | -21 | 36 |
| 18 | Leganes | 36 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 26 | 49 | -23 | 32 |
| 19 | Real Mallorca | 36 | 9 | 5 | 22 | 37 | 61 | -24 | 32 |
| 20 | Espanyol | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 27 | 57 | -30 | 24 |
Go white angels!!
Could??? They’ve won it already.
Or Barca should just make it easy for them and lose or draw their match. Barca was leading the table when the league started, their sloppy plays cost them the lead so they might as well just gift Real the title. Go Real.