Real Madrid are beating Villarreal 2-1 after 45 minutes of their La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening.

The home side took the lead in the seventh minute of the match. Gareth Bale stole the ball from Jose Antonio Dorado and burst into the area, before lifting a shot over Sergio Asenjo and into the far corner of the net.

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Villarreal almost responded immediately, as Giovani dos Santos whipped in a cross from the left that found Jonathan Pereira Rodriguez, but the forward fired his effort high over the bar.

Edu Ramos tried his luck with an powerful effort from long range, but it was comfortably saved by Diego Lopez.

Madrid scored their second of the game midway through the half when Bale played in a low cross from the right that was met by Karim Benzema at the near post to slot home.

Two minutes before the end of the half Mario Gaspar pulled a goal back for the visitors, as he fired a powerful strike into the top left hand corner of the net, which left Lopez rooted to the spot.