Domingos Duarte then scored again for the visitors with 12 minutes to make Madrid sweat but James Rodriguez made sure of victory three minutes into stoppage time.

Real got off the perfect start as Benzema put them ahead with just two minutes gone.

Gareth Bale’s cross from the right picked out the France international at the back post and Benzema fired home first time into the net from close range.

Granada suffered a blow after six minutes when Angel Montoro picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Maxime Gonalons.

Madrid continued to enjoy the better of the game as Raphael Varane headed a Toni Kroos free-kick over before Benzema fired wide after latching onto Casemiro’s ball into the box.

Federico Valverde sent a tame header straight at Rui Silva and Granada then had their first sight of goal but Antonio Puertas headed wide from Machis’ cross.

Still Madrid piled forward and Sergio Ramos, Varane and Alvaro Odriozola all had shots blocked in quick succession.

Dani Carvajal then saw Silva turn away his effort, with Madrid threatening to extend their advantage.

Puertas saw another effort drift wide before at the other end the hosts finally extended their advantage in first-half stoppage time.

Federico Valverde poked the ball through to Hazard and he took one touch to control the ball before lifting it over Silva and into the net.

Alphonse Areola was called into action for the first time three minutes after the break when he got down low to save Yangel Herrera’s effort from just outside the box and he then denied Duarte moments later from a similar distance.

Madrid made it 3-0 in the 60th minute when Hazard burst forward down the left and cut back inside onto his right foot before rolling the ball across to Modric, who rifled home a superb right-footed effort from 25 yards.

Granada were given a lifeline with 21 minutes remaining when Carlos Fernandez was brought down in the box by Areola, who was given a yellow card, and Machis converted the resulting penalty.

Silva saved a Ramos header and at the other end Victor Diaz sent a header narrowly wide before Duarte got Granada back to within a goal.

Duarte slid in at the back post to score from close range after Diaz had flicked on Alvaro Vadillo’s corner from the right.

James then wrapped it up in stoppage time with his first Real goal for more than two years.

Odriozola cut the ball back to the onrushing James to fire home on the counter and he then became the ninth player to be booked when he was yellow carded for excessive celebration.