MADRID (AP) – Real Madrid kept their momentum from before the international break and won first place in the Spanish league on Sunday with a 4-1 win against 10-man Granada.
Marco Asensio, Nacho Fernández, Vinícius Júnior and Ferland Mendy all scored and gave Madrid their fourth straight win in all competitions.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team reached 30 points in 13 league games, two points more than Sevilla and Real Sociedad. Sevilla draw 2-2 against Alavés on Saturday, while Sociedad take on Valencia on Sunday and have a chance to return to the top of the table.
Granada played back from 67th when midfielder Ramón Rodríguez was sent off for a tough sliding tackle against Vinícius Júnior. Granada coach Robert Moreno was later sent off due to complaints.
The win extended Madrid’s undefeated streak to seven games in all competitions before the Champions League visit to the Sheriff on Wednesday.
Ancelotti took some of his key players out of the game in the second half to give them some extra peace, including Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Vinícius Júnior and Toni Kroos.
“It’s always difficult to get going after the international break, but the team was focused and overall we played a great game,” said Asensio. “We got the three points, that was the most important thing.”
It was Madrid’s 13th straight league win against Granada, which has only won two of its 13 league games this season. With 11 points it is in 18th place within the relegation zone.
Asensio gave Madrid the lead in the 19th minute after a pass from Kroos from the box, which set up Nacho’s goal in the 25th minute. Vinícius Júnior increased the lead after passes from Benzema and Modric in the 56th and Ferland Mendy ended the goal from the penalty area after a presentation by Casemiro in the 76th round.
Granada’s only goal came in the 34th minute when striker Luis Suárez deflected a low shot from outside the box at Nacho before going in.
Ancelotti had to do without Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard after returning from international break with health problems. Bale injured a leg muscle in Wales while Hazard had a stomach virus.
NOT LAST GETAFE
Getafe defeated Cádiz 4-0 at home, moving away from bottom of the table.
It was Getafe’s second win that season after starting with seven straight defeats. His only other win was in Espanyol, also at home, two laps ago.
The result put the Madrid club two points ahead of last-placed Levante, who drew 0-0 at home against Athletic Bilbao on Friday.
Cádiz, unbeaten in three league games, stayed in 16th place, one point ahead of relegation zone. It welcomes defending champions Atlético Madrid in the next round.
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