Real Madrid won for the 10th game in a row to beat neighbours Atletico Madrid and move eight points clear of Sevilla at the top of La Liga.
La Liga’s top scorer Karim Benzema powered in a fantastic volley from Vinicius Jr’s cross to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead.
And Vinicius picked out Marco Asensio to slot home their second.
Defending champions Atletico, who are 13 points behind Real, had chances but the clinical hosts deserved the win.
Real have only lost twice in 23 games – and none since 3 October – since Carlo Ancelotti replaced Zinedine Zidane in the summer.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who sit fourth, look miles away from the team who won La Liga last season.
They did force Real keeper Thibaut Courtois into six saves, including to keep out Antoine Griezmann’s free-kick.
A double change at the break and the introduction of Luis Suarez could not help them find a way through though.
Real deserved their win with Vinicius involved in both goals. Benzema’s opener was his 13th La Liga goal of the season and his 36th for Real in all competitions in 2021, his best annual haul for the club. He was replaced by Luka Jovic at the break.
Barcelona are down in eighth, 18 points behind Real, after a 2-2 draw at Osasuna.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
1Courtois
2Carvajal3Militão4Alaba23Mendy
10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos
11Asensio9Benzema20Vinícius Júnior
- 1Courtois
- 2CarvajalSubstituted forNachoat 81′minutes
- 3Militão
- 4AlabaBooked at 88mins
- 23MendyBooked at 45mins
- 10Modric
- 14Casemiro
- 8Kroos
- 11AsensioSubstituted forValverdeat 85′minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forJovicat 45′minutes
- 20Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forRodrygoat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Nacho
- 7E Hazard
- 12Marcelo
- 13Lunin
- 15Valverde
- 16Jovic
- 17Vázquez
- 18Bale
- 21Rodrygo
- 22Isco
- 24Mariano
- 25Camavinga
Atl Madrid
Formation 4-4-2
13Oblak
14Llorente18Felipe4Kondogbia22Hermoso
10Correa5de Paul6Koke21Carrasco
8Griezmann19Santos Carneiro Da Cunha
- 13Oblak
- 14Llorente
- 18FelipeBooked at 36mins
- 4KondogbiaBooked at 75mins
- 22Hermoso
- 10CorreaSubstituted forLodi dos Santosat 60′minutes
- 5de PaulSubstituted forHerreraat 69′minutes
- 6Koke
- 21CarrascoSubstituted forLemarat 45′minutes
- 8GriezmannSubstituted forSequeiraat 45′minutes
- 19Santos Carneiro Da CunhaSubstituted forSuárezat 60′minutesBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 1Lecomte
- 7Sequeira
- 9Suárez
- 11Lemar
- 12Lodi dos Santos
- 16Herrera
- 23Trippier
- 26Serrano
- 47Camara Silva
Referee:Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Attendance:51,024
Live Text
Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 0.
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 0.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Casemiro.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. João Félix (Atletico Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Héctor Herrera with a cross.
Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid).
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
David Alaba (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Luis Suárez (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Rodrygo replaces Vinícius Júnior.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Geoffrey Kondogbia (Atletico Madrid).
Substitution, Real Madrid. Federico Valverde replaces Marco Asensio.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Casemiro.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Nacho.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Ferland Mendy.
Foul by Eder Militão (Real Madrid).
João Félix (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Nacho replaces Daniel Carvajal.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
