Match ends, Elche 0, Real Madrid 2.
Elche 0-2 Real Madrid
- From the section European Football
Cristiano Ronaldo moved up to third on Real Madrid's all-time top scorers list after he found the net in a comfortable away victory over Elche in La Liga.
The Portugal forward scored the 290th goal of his Madrid career to climb above Carlos Santillana and is now 33 goals behind Raul's record of 323.
Karim Benzema had put Real ahead with a scrappy opening goal before Ronaldo powerfully headed in a second.
Real's advantage over Barcelona at the top of La Liga is now four points.
Real Madrid had claimed on their website that Ronaldo reached the 290-goal milestone in their Champions League last-16 tie against Schalke on 18 February.
However, La Liga officially awarded a goal that the club had credited to Ronaldo in a game against Real Sociedad in September 2010, to Portuguese compatriot Pepe.
Coming into the game against Elche, Carlo Ancelotti's Real side were seeking to capitalise on Barca's 1-0 home loss to Malaga on Saturday, in the Italian's 100th game in charge.
| Real Madrid's top goalscorers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Raul (1994-2010) | 323 goals | 741 appearances |
| Alfredo Di Stefano (1953-1964) | 305 goals | 392 appearances |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (2009-present) | 290 goals | 281 appearances |
| Carlos Santillana (1971-1988) | 289 goals | 645 appearances |
| Ferenc Puskas (1958-1966) | 242 goals | 262 appearances |
Benzema thought he had put the European champions ahead in the first half with a brilliant overhead kick that went into the bottom corner, but the referee whistled for an infringement.
The France striker scored with an altogether less spectacular effort that did count 11 minutes into the second half.
Ronaldo's cross from the left flank was deflected off Elche defender David Lomban on to goalkeeper Przemysław Tyton and into the path of Benzema, who tapped into a vacant net.
Ronaldo then made the points safe when he got on the end of Isco's left-wing cross to send a powerful header past Tyton.
Elsewhere, David Moyes's Real Sociedad moved up to 10th in the table after a 4-3 win over Sevilla at the Anoeta Stadium, Villarreal beat Eibar 1-0while Athletic Bilbao completed a narrow 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Line-ups
Elche
- 25Tyton
- 2Suárez
- 3RocoBooked at 71mins
- 4Rodríguez Lombán
- 21Albácar GallegoBooked at 24mins
- 17Rodríguez Romero
- 8González MoralesSubstituted forHerreraat 81'minutes
- 24PasalicSubstituted forGálvezat 75'minutes
- 7Ñíguez EsclapezBooked at 52minsSubstituted forMendes Rodriguesat 64'minutes
- 20Fajr
- 22Cristian de JesusBooked at 40mins
Substitutes
- 1Herrera Yagüe
- 5Cisma
- 9Herrera
- 10Corominas
- 11Mendes Rodrigues
- 19Giménez Candela
- 35Gálvez
Real Madrid
- 1Casillas
- 15Carvajal
- 3Pepe
- 2Varane
- 12MarceloBooked at 38mins
- 11Bale
- 16BorgesSubstituted forIllarramendiat 84'minutes
- 8Kroos
- 23IscoSubstituted forArbeloaat 89'minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 90+3'minutes
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 13Navas
- 14Hernández
- 17Arbeloa
- 18Nacho
- 20Rodríguez Ruiz
- 24Illarramendi
- 26Medrán
- Referee:
- Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva
- Attendance:
- 31,512
Match Stats
Home TeamElcheAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away5
- Corners
- Home1
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away6
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Elche 0, Real Madrid 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Jesé replaces Karim Benzema.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigues (Elche) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Faycal Fajr.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Álvaro Arbeloa replaces Isco.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jonathas (Elche).
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Asier Illarramendi replaces Lucas Silva.
Hand ball by Rodrigues (Elche).
Substitution
Substitution, Elche. Cristian Herrera replaces Adrián.
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jonathas (Elche).
Substitution
Substitution, Elche. Rafael Gálvez replaces Mario Pasalic.
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Booking
Enzo Roco (Elche) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Enzo Roco (Elche).
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
Adrián (Elche) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Elche 0, Real Madrid 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Isco with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Enzo Roco.
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Elche. Rodrigues replaces Aarón.
Offside, Elche. Damián Suárez tries a through ball, but Jonathas is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Adrián.
Lucas Silva (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mario Pasalic (Elche).
Goal!
Goal! Elche 0, Real Madrid 1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Enzo Roco (Elche).
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mario Pasalic (Elche).
Attempt missed. Isco (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Attempt blocked. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pepe with a cross.
Booking
Aarón (Elche) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
