Barcelona: Real Madrid won their game in hand in La Liga on Wednesday night beating Leganes 3-1.
The victory moves them up to third, seven points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid and 14 behind leaders Barcelona. Cristiano Ronaldo had been given time off to miss the game and coach Zinedine Zidane also left Gareth Bale on the bench, but his team still had too much for their capital neighbours.
The home side took the lead after six minutes when Unai Bustinza scrambled in a corner that both keeper Kiko Casilla and left-back Theo Hernandez had failed to clear.
But Madrid levelled five minute later from Lucas Vazquez’s shot. And Vazquez was involved again on 29 minutes, setting up Casemiro to make it 2-1.
Real Madrid sealed the points with a minute left when Sergio Ramos stroked home a penalty after Mateo Kovacic had been upended in the area.
Zinedine praised his team after the win, happy his decision to allow Ronaldo to take a mini-break and to bench Bale had been justified.
“Isco and [Karim] Benzema combined well and the wingers Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez both played a great game,” he said.
“We played a very serious match with the right attitude.
“I’m pleased that when they scored, we immediately responded.
“We equalized in five minutes.”
Zidane was also buoyed by Madrid’s recent record in front of goal.
“We controlled the game and we are on a good run,” he added.
“We had scored 23 goals in our last five league games it was three more tonight. “We have got third place back and our idea is to keeping going and to regain second place.”
Sergio Ramos was booked and will miss Real Madrid’s home game with Alaves on Saturday.
Happy with his late penalty, he said: “When Cris [Ronaldo] is not there, then it’s either me or [Gareth] Bale to take them. Football is about results and we are putting a run together.”
Leganes’ scorer Bustinza said: “We gave a good account of ourselves and started the game well, but we dropped a little when they equalized.” — dpa
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