Real Madrid have eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Elche in La Liga this afternoon, courtesy of goals from Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale and Isco.
Madrid threatened after only four minutes as Manu Herrera got down well to deny Karim Benzema at the bottom corner of the Elche goal.
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The hosts almost found the lead when Angel di Maria whipped in a corner, which somehow evaded Herrera and smashed onto the crossbar, leaving the defence to clear their lines.
In an opening period dominated by Madrid, the title chasers' best chance came in the 30th minute when Di Maria found Jese, but the young striker could only turn his effort wide of the post.
The miss wasn't to prove too costly, though, as Illarramendi grabbed his first league goal of the season with a drilled effort from the edge of the box, leaving Madrid to go into half time 1-0 up.
Bale almost doubled the hosts' lead after half time when he latched on to a cross from Jese, but the Welshman saw his effort drop just wide of the post.
The miss didn't put the striker off, however, as Bale returned to notch Real's second of the game with a thumping effort from outside of the box.
Madrid cemented the three points in the 81st minute, when midfielder Isco slotted home coolly having been found by Benzema's adroit pass inside the box.
Christopher Dodd
