Match ends, Real Madrid 4, Almería 0.
Real MadridReal Madrid4AlmeríaAlmería0
Gareth Bale's 19th goal of the season helped Real Madrid boost their Spanish title chances with an easy win against Almeria at the Bernabeu.
Real led through Angel Di Maria's angled drive before Wales forward Bale doubled their lead with a powerful left-foot effort after the break.
Isco tucked inside the near post three minutes later before substitute Alvaro Morata guided in a late fourth.
Real moved level on points with leaders Atletico Madrid after Barcelona lost.
Carlo Ancelotti's men are second behind their city rivals Atletico, who visit Getafe on Sunday, on the basis of the head-to-head record between the two teams.
But they moved above arch rivals Barca - with five matches remaining - after the Catalans suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Granada.
Despite the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Real never looked like being threatened by an Almeria side which has spent the vast majority of the season stuck in the bottom three.
And, after being initially frustrated by visiting keeper Esteban in the first half, their attacking quality shone through after the break to earn a resounding win.
Now Ancelotti's side switch their attention to the Copa Del Rey final, where they face Barca in Valencia on Wednesday.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 25López
- 18Nacho
- 3Pepe
- 2Varane
- 5da Silva CoentrãoSubstituted forLlorenteat 73'minutes
- 19Modric
- 24Illarramendi
- 23Isco
- 22Di MaríaSubstituted forCasemiroat 64'minutes
- 9Benzema
- 11BaleSubstituted forMorataat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Casillas
- 16Casemiro
- 21Morata
- 27Vázquez
- 28Mascarell
- 38Llorente
- 39Da Silva
Almería
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Andrés Suárez
- 22Tomar Marcos
- 4Martínez
- 2Torsiglieri
- 21Jiménez Ortiz
- 7Garcia Rabasco
- 6Tebar
- 15García Pérez-RoldánSubstituted forSorianoat 72'minutes
- 19Sundy ZongoSubstituted forDíaz Gonzálezat 69'minutes
- 10Ríos LozanoSubstituted forVidal Parreuat 57'minutes
- 11Rodrigues Barbosa
Substitutes
- 3Silva Fernández
- 8Vidal Parreu
- 9Díaz González
- 17Fernández Saez
- 23Soriano
- 25Cuesta Díaz
- 31Azeez
- Referee:
- Juan Martínez Munuera
- Attendance:
- 65,896
Match Stats
Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamAlmería
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home28
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away1
- Corners
- Home9
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away7
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 4, Almería 0.
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Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fernando Soriano (Almería).
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Attempt missed. Isco (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
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Foul by Diego Llorente (Real Madrid).
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Aleix Vidal (Almería) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Marcos Tébar (Almería).
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 4, Almería 0. Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Asier Illarramendi with a through ball.
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Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Verza (Almería).
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Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Álvaro Morata following a set piece situation.
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Attempt blocked. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Diego Llorente (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mané (Almería).
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Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).
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Aleix Vidal (Almería) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Isco.
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Corner, Almería. Conceded by Nacho.
