K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Isco.
Isco claims a simple assist on the late goal.
GOOOOAALLLL!! 2-0. BENZEMA!!! Game, set and match. The French forward cuts inside from the right wing, takes on a defender and places a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area into the far bottom corner. A lovely finish from Real Madrid's talisman.
90' +2
The hosts go in search of a second to seal the win. Isco strikes from just inside the box but his effort is blocked by a Granada defender and the ball goes out for a corner. Kroos delivers but Duarte clears the danger for the visitors.
90' +1
The fourth official has added on four minutes in this LaLiga clash.
90'
Milla whips in a free kick for Granada but Duarte’s header is just too high to trouble Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.
88'
Herrera meets a cross from the right wing, but the Granada forward can’t guide his attempt goalward. The visitors have two minutes plus added time to try and salvage a result late on here in Madrid.
86'
It’s hardly been vintage Real Madrid tonight but as it stands, they’ll join rivals Atletico at the top of the LaLiga table over Christmas. Both have 32 points albeit with Diego Simeone’s men having two games in hand.
84'
Germán Sánchez enters the game and replaces Jesús Vallejo.
Sanchez replaces Vallejo for Granada with the clock ticking away.
83'
As a result of that Carvajal yellow card, Granada have a free kick in a dangerous position on the right wing. The ball is whipped in, but Vallejo just can’t reach the delivery at the far post.
81'
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Carvajal goes into the referee's book as he fouls Neva on the far side of the pitch.
Granada are really beginning to push hard for an equaliser here in the Spanish capital. The away side have upped their intensity across the pitch and are whipping in crosses from the wide areas whenever possible.
Minute
Description
78'
Isco enters the game and replaces F. Valverde.
Vinícius Júnior enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Zidane makes an attacking switch of his own as Vinicus replaces Vazquez on the right wing.
Isco comes on at the same time for the hosts to replace Valverde in central midfield.
77'
It's a close one but VAR make the decision that Casemiro blocked the attempt with his right leg before the ball hit his arm.
76'
It’s calamity in the Real Madrid box as Granada nearly strike back. Varane lets the ball bounce in his own area which results in Molina striking at goal. His effort is blocked by Casemiro and VAR will check that it wasn’t handball.
74'
Granada also make another change at the same time as captain Soldado is replaced by the in-form Molina.
73'
Jorge Molina enters the game and replaces Soldado.
Quini enters the game and replaces D. Foulquier.
Vazques gets the ball from Mendy on the edge of the Granada box and lets fly from 30 yards out. His effort is strong, but wayward and doesn’t force Silva into a save.
Foulquier departs the pitch as Ruiz takes his spot at right back.
71'
Real Madrid are just controlling the possession here in the Spanish capital as they take the sting out of this match. The visitors are struggling to get on the ball at present as they look to force a way back into this clash.
67'
A Real Madrid corner is whipped in by Kroos and Varane guides a header goalward. The French defender’s attempt is on target and dips just in front of the goalkeeper but Silva does well to keep hold under pressure.
65'
It’s up to Madrid to go and kill off this LaLiga match now with a second goal. Whilst their lead only stands at one, Granada will always have a chance of levelling the match. The away side have had some big chances of their own so far and will carry a threat until the end.
63'
Alberto Soro enters the game and replaces Kenedy.
L. Suárez enters the game and replaces Y. Eteki.
Alvarez joins the action at the same time as Eteki makes way.
Granada make a switch upfront as Suarez replaces Kenedy on the left wing.
60'
Valverde whips a dangerous ball across the face of the Granada goal, but no one can connect with the delivery as the hosts go in search of a second goal.
57'
Casemiro has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marco Asensio.
GOOOAALLLLLL!! 1-0 TO REAL MADRID. CASEMIRO!!!! The hosts are deservedly ahead. Asensio crosses to the back post from the left wing and the Brazilian midfielder rises above Vallejo to nod in from close range. It’s been coming for the hosts who have been lively in the last ten minutes.
Asensio floated a lovely ball to the back stick which was met perfectly by the onrushing Brazilian. Advantage Real Madrid!
53'
Valverde bursts from his own half before playing a ball out wide to Vazquez on the right. The forward skips inside but his cross is too deep to be salvaged by a team-mate. Real Madrid really haven’t been their brilliant best so far this evening.
50'
Real Madrid haven’t got going quite yet in this second half. Casemiro is the latest to surrender possession too easily in midfield.
48'
Just like in the first half, Granada fly out of the traps and have an early chance in this second half. Soldado pulls a ball back from the by-line on the right but Neva’s shot from 25 yards out flies over Courtois' crossbar.
46'
Both sets of players are back on the field and the second half begins!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 GRANADA.
45' +2
Valverde cuts a ball from the right wing back to Benzema on the edge of the box, but the French forward’s shot is blocked by a Granada defender. The away side try to break from the resulting corner but Carvajal does well to tackle Kenedy on the halfway line.
45'
There’ll be a minimum of three minutes of additional time played here in this LaLiga clash.
42'
The home side are just knocking the ball around at present - from side to side - trying to force a chance and a mistake from the Granada defence. It’s patient build-up but there’s been little reward for their effort so far this evening.
40'
Granada are doing a fantastic job of pressuring the hosts when they have the ball at the back. Soldado is constantly putting Varane and Ramos under pressure whilst Kenedy and Puertas keep swapping wings to try and keep Carvajal and Mendy guessing.
38'
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces Rodrygo.
Asensio is the man chosen to replace the stricken Rodrygo.
36'
Rodrygo bursts into the Granada box from the left and takes a tumble. The referee isn’t interested in any penalty claims, but the young Brazilian forward looks in trouble and may be forced off with a muscular injury.
34'
Real Madrid have just lacked that extra bit of quality in the attacking third so far tonight. They have had chances but no clear-cut ones of note just yet and Benzema hasn’t been too involved to date.
31'
It’s very compact from Granada who are sitting back when their opposition hold the ball. The visitors have only lost four times in LaLiga this campaign and have played very well in the Europa League where they qualified from Group E as runners-up to Dutch side PSV.
29'
Real Madrid swing in a set piece and the ball lands to Carvajal on the edge of the box but his volley from 30 yards is blocked out for a corner. Soon after, Varane sees a header float over the Granada crossbar from the resulting set piece.
27'
D. Foulquier gets yellow.
Foulquier goes into the book for catching Mendy in the face with an accidental elbow. That seems a harsh decision after viewing the replays.
26'
Granada grab a corner of their own, but Courtois does well to reach the cross and punch clear under pressure.
23'
Vazquez receives the ball on the right wing and tries to take on his man, but Neva is on hand to tackle the Spanish international and the ball goes out for another Real Madrid corner. The subsequent delivery is easily dealt with by the Granada back line and the danger is cleared.
21'
Both Kenedy on the left and Puertas on the right are working hard to track back and cover their full-backs as Real Madrid attack. Granada will need to offer plenty of discipline to grab a positive result tonight in Madrid.
17'
Lucas Vázquez gets yellow.
Vazquez receives the first yellow card of the evening as he fouls Milla with Granada looking to counter-attack.
13'
Here’s to hoping that the pace of the match will keep up for the whole 90 minutes. It’s fluid, end-to-end entertaining football so far from both sides with both having a point to prove in this fixture.
11'
It looks like Granada will in fact play in their more familiar 4-3-3 formation tonight. Herrera is playing in central midfield whilst Kenedy – on loan from Premier League side Chelsea - will play from the left wing.
9'
An error from Courtois gives Kenedy a look at goal. The Belgian goalkeeper mishandles an attempted through ball and Kenedy swivels and aims an attempt at goal. Thankfully for the hosts, Courtois recovers to make a simple save.
8'
Real Madrid again push forward and this time Rodrygo sees his attempt from distance saved comfortably by Silva. It’s been a very positive start from the hosts.
6'
As expected, it’s the hosts who are dominating the early possession in this LaLiga clash despite that massive early chance falling for Granada. It’ll be key for the midfield trio of Kroos, Casemiro and Valverde to control this match for the home side.
4'
Real Madrid respond with a chance of their own through Benzema. The French forward receives the ball on the edge of the Granada penalty area, but his shot is saved behind for a corner. Nothing comes of the resulting set piece.
1'
Referee Juan Martinez Munuera blows his whistle and we’re underway here in the Spanish capital!
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo.
GRANADA SUBS: Aaron Escandell, Joao Costa, Quini, Nehuen Perez, Pepe Sanchez, German Sanchez, Ramon Azeez, Alberto Soro, Jorge Molina, Luis Suarez.
GRANADA (5-3-2): Rui Silva; Dimitri Foulquier, Jesus Vallejo, Yangel Herrera, Domingos Duarte, Carlos Neva; Luis Milla, Yan Eteki, Kenedy; Antonio Puertas, Roberto Soldado.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Andriy Lunin, Marcelo, Nacho, Eder Militao, Alvaro Odriozola, Isco, Martin Odegaard, Marco Asensio, Mariano, Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Vinicius Junior.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick-off is just moments away.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this LaLiga fixture between Real Madrid and Granada.
Fans receive an early festive treat tonight as LaLiga champions Real Madrid play host to a strong Granada side who themselves have one eye on Champions League qualification this season. The hosts are in need of another three points as they look to hunt down cross city rivals Atletico who currently occupy top spot whilst a win for Granada would push them up to fifth in the current standings.
Zinedine Zidane may look to his bench to freshen up his attack in the second half. Odegaard could be a great choice to try and unlock this tough and disciplined Granada backline.
Thank you for following our coverage of tonight’s LaLiga match-up between Real Madrid and Granada. Until next time, stay safe!
Both sides now get a deserved break over the Christmas period and return for matchday 16 which commences on the 29th of December. Real Madrid next travel to Elche on the 30th whilst Granada host a struggling Valencia side on the same day.
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