Karim Benzema scored twice for Real Madrid against Granada on Sunday afternoon in Madrid, Spain. (Getty)
Final Score
Real Madrid 4-5–9
Granada 0-1–1
Real Madrid beat Granada 9-1 in La Liga action on Sunday afternoon in Madrid. The goal onslaught was led by Cristiano Ronaldo’s five goal masterpiece for Real Madrid.
Granada fought early to keep the game close, including Robert Ibanez’s strike that came just wide right in the 14th minute, but Real Madrid opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Gareth Bale and could not stop. Ronaldo scored a hat trick in eight minutes, scoring in 30th, 36th, and 38th minutes, and Real Madrid was comfortably in command of the game with a 4-0 halftime lead. Ronaldo scored twice more in the second half, as did Karim Benzema, and Granada even allowed an own goal in the 83rd minute.
Granada pulled a goal back from Robert Ibanez in the 75th minute, but the visitors were looking forward to their next game, with Celta Vigo on Wednesday April 8th, by halftime.
Here are the highlights:
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores For Real Madrid in the 90th Minute
Cristiano Ronaldo scores his fifth goal of the game against Granada for Real Madrid and now has 36 goals in the La Liga season.
Robert Ibanez Scores For Granada in the 75th Minute
Robert Ibanez earned a goal for Granada to soften the blow. The goal is the fourth of the season for Ibanez.
Karim Benzema Scores For Real Madrid in the 56th Minute
Karim Benzema scores the seventh goal for Real Madrid against Granada, his second of the game, on April 5th, 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores For Real Madrid in the 54th Minute
In the 54th minute of a La Liga game on April 5th, Cristiano Ronaldo scores his fourth goal of the game against Granada.
Karim Benzema Scores For Real Madrid in the 52nd Minute
Karim Benzema scores the fifth goal for Real Madrid against Granada on April 5th, 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores for Real Madrid in The 38th Minute
In the 38th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo finishes his first half hat trick against Granada. He fired a shot off of Granada goalie Oier Olazabal’s hands and into the back of the net for his La Liga-leading 34th goal of the season.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores for Real Madrid in The 36th Minute
Cristiano Ronaldo received a pass from James Rodriguez and converted in the 36th minute for his second goal of the game for Real Madrid against Granada on April 5th, 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores for Real Madrid in The 30th Minute
Cristiano Ronaldo struck for his 32nd goal of La Liga season to give Real Madrid a 2-0 lead against Granada
Gareth Bale Scores for Real Madrid in The 25th Minute
Gareth Bale opened the scoring for Real Madrid as he has passes linked from James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos that led to the first goal for Real Madrid. The assist was Toni Kross’s eighth assist of the season and the goal was Bale’s 13 of the La Liga season.
Stats
Goals: Real Madrid- Bale (25′), Ronaldo (30′, 36′, 38′, 54′, 89′), Benzema (52′, 56′), Mainz (og 83′); Granada- Robert Ibanez (75′)
Shots (on goal): Real Madrid, 29 (11); Granada, 11 (6)
Fouls: Granada, 9; Real Madrid, 6
Tackles: Granada, 17; Real Madrid, 12
Possession: Real Madrid, 62%; Granada- 38%
Lineups
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Marcelo, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa; Kroos, Modric, James Rodriguez; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Real Madrid Reserves: Keylor Navas, Coentrao, Chicharito, Lucas Silva, Nacho, Jese, Illara
Granada (4-5-1): Olazabal; Mainz, Babin, Juan Carlos, Foulquier; Fran Rico, Candeias, Iturra, Ibanez, Rochina; El Arabi
Granada Reserves: Roberto, Nyom, Murillo, Marquez, Eddys, Piti, Riki
Preview
Sergio Ramos looks to lead Real Madrid past their disappointment against Barcelona on March 22nd.(Getty)
Real Madrid sits second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona, who beat Real Madrid 2-1 before the International break. Real Madrid has one of the fierciest scoring attacks in Europe and will add James Rodriguez, who has missed the past two months with a broken foot. Rodriguez scored twice for Real Madrid against Granada in November. Real Madrid may average 2.79 goals per game, but they have scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last 10 games. The 2013-2014 Champions League winners are also only 1-1-3 since March 1st in all competitions.
Granada tied Eibar 0-0 before the break and is struggling near the bottom of the table at 18th. Granada has won two games of 14 in 2015 and is struggling to score goals as well. Granada has only scored more than one goal twice during the La Liga season, a 2-2 draw to Deportivo La Coruña and a 2-1 win against Deportivo La Coruña in their first game of 2014-2015 on August 23rd. Granada’s defense is respectable, as they have 18 games where they have allowed a goal or less, but Real Madrid’s offense may be too much for Granada.
