Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Twice As Real Madrid Clinch 2-1 Win Over Eibar

Real Madrid put in a shaky performance but maintained their fine form with a 2-1 win at Eibar. Zinedine Zidane’s side have won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions, but still trail Barcelona, who have a game in hand, by 12 points.

Eibar dominated the first 30 minutes and created several chances but against the run of play, a delightful pass from Luka Modric sliced through the defence for Cristiano Ronaldo to score.

Iván Ramis headed home Pedro León’s corner to equalise five minutes after the restart but Ronaldo doubled his tally, after being denied by two brilliant saves from Marko Dmitrovic, to seal all three points.

Eibar raced out of the blocks and went close on two occasions inside the first minute, Ander Capa seeing his effort blocked in the penalty area by Modric before León headed over the rebound.

Madrid continued to struggle as Eibar pressed and the home side were inches from taking the lead four minutes later, when a teasing cross from Takashi Inui nearly found Kike at the near post but the forward could not convert.

Eibar went close once more after great footwork in the middle of midfield by Joan Jordán created space for a quick break and, after a neat backheel from Inui, Kike fired in a curling effort from the edge of the area, which Keylor Navas was forced to tip around the post.

Eibar continued to open up Madrid – Jordán nodded León’s free-kick wide on the half-hour mark – but there were signs of a response from the visitors when Gareth Bale was denied by Dmitrovic after being played through by Marcelo. Madrid went ahead after 34 minutes when Modric intercepted a pass from Anaitz Arbilla before playing a sumptuous through-ball for Ronaldo to drill home at the near post.

Sergio Ramos thundered a shot wide after good defending from Ramis, before Ronaldo was denied a second by a fantastic save from Dmitrovic and Modric fired straight at the Serbian just before the break.

Gonzalo Escalante’s cross-shot after the restart forced Navas into a desperate save and Eibar levelled from the resulting corner, Ramis powering home a free header into the bottom corner.

Madrid responded immediately with a good passing move concluding in Modric laying off to Ronaldo but his effort flew over the crossbar. Modric then dragged another shot wide of the post after a driving run.

Dmitrovic produced another wonderful save to thwart Ronaldo from 12 yards after a great cross from Bale before the Welshman glanced a header just wide of the far post. A second Madrid goal looked imminent.

Karim Benzema came on with 20 minutes left, Madrid trying to force a winner, but it was Eibar who went closest when Inui headed over from six yards, while Paulo Oliveira shot straight at Navas.

Kike fired just wide following another quick break from the hosts, but Madrid proved their quality with seven minutes remaining when Ronaldo headed home Dani Carvajal’s brilliant cross.