Real Madrid enjoyed a temporary respite from their European Super League humiliation by thrashing Cadiz 3-0 on Wednesday to keep the pressure on Atletico Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
Three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half helped Madrid go top of the table on head-to-head, above Atletico Madrid, who play at home to Huesca on Thursday.
Karim Benzema scored twice and set up another for Alvaro Odriozola to head in at the Ramon de Carranza stadium, where any suggestion Madrid’s players might be destabilised after a hugely controversial few days was dismissed.
Madrid president Florentino Perez was the only owner from the European Super League’s 12 founding clubs to speak publicly about the competition following its remarkable launch on Sunday night.
And despite 10 of the 12 clubs pulling out in the face of anger and opposition from all sides of the game, Real Madrid was still officially part of the breakaway tournament when the players kicked off on Wednesday night.
LaLiga sought to capitalise on the momentum towards reform, with the slogan ‘Earn it! On the pitch’ projected for television viewers across the stand where the virtual fans would usually be.
Cadiz players wore t-shirts in the warm-up that read ‘Super League? Football is for everyone’.
Cadiz, who drop to 13th in the table, are a shining example of what sporting merit looks like, back in the top flight for the first time in 15 years and probably already safe, with nine points between them and the bottom three.
They even beat Real Madrid away from home in October.
But with the trophies in sight, Madrid are a different proposition now, this their 16th game unbeaten and returning the team to winning ways after Sunday’s goalless draw away at Getafe.
Casemiro and Nacho Fernandez were both suspended for that game and Zinedine Zidane welcomed the duo back into a side that remains depleted by injuries, with the 20-year-old Antonio Blanco thrown into Madrid’s midfield.
Benzema, though, led from the front, his pass into Vinicius Junior creating the penalty after Iza dangled out a leg in front of the striker.
Benzema buried the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
The second came three minutes later, Iza at fault again as he gave the ball away under pressure from Marcelo and Benzema crossed to the back post, where Odriozola nodded in.
In the 40th minute, it was three. Casemiro’s pass for Vinicius was cleared but only straight back to the midfielder, who this time chipped the ball up for Benzema to add his second, Madrid’s third.