Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have given Real Madrid a 2-0 lead over Real Valladolid after 45 minutes at the Bernabeu.

A win for Los Blancos this evening will take them within three points of joint-leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

The first goal came when Diego Marino parried Angel di Maria's cross straight to the Welshman, who reacted quickly to nod into an empty net for his seventh goal in Real colours.

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He turned provider for the second three minutes later, arrowing in for Benzema to power another header past Marino.

The visitors barely featured as an attacking force in the first half, with their only attempts being wayward ones from Zakaria Bergdich and Javi Guerra.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti's men have peppered the Valladolid goal with 14 shots, six of them being on target.