Racing Santander 1-3 Real Madrid : No Ronaldo, No Problem

Two goals from Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Racing Santander at El Sardinero, and reduced the gap of La Liga leaders Barcelona back to seven points in the process.

The Frenchman converted a pair of neat finishes either side of a Kennedy strike to clinch the victory for Jose Mourinho's men and keep their title aspirations alive for another week.

Madrid started the match minus Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in the league this season, but throughout the first half Los Blancos barely missed his presence as they dominated proceedings.

Full-back Marcelo missed a glaring chance, before Benzema, who started the match from a wide right role, struck straight at the legs of Tono in the home goal.

The opener was imminent however, and when it arrived it was a superb team move from the capital giants. Xabi Alonso, Benzema and Mesut Oezil were all involved in the build-up, with the German laying across goal for Emmnauel Adebayor to apply the simplest of finishes from close range.

Four minutes later, it was two when Oezil, who was imperious all evening, picked out a glorious through pass and Benzema ran clear before slotting his effort under the body of Tono.

Racing had barely been given a kick in the opening 45 minutes, but improved after the break, and had a prime opportunity to reduce the deficit when Giovani dos Santos was felled in the area, but Pablo Pinillos’ resulting penalty was weak, and was easily gathered by Iker Casillas down to his left. It was the Verdiblancos fifth spot-kick miss from their last six attempts.

However, they did eventually pull a goal back, when Mehdi Lacen’s slide-rule through pass found Kennedy, and he drilled neatly into the corner past Casillas, to set up a grandstand finish.

Their revival was short lived. Angel Di Maria’s incisive breakaway found Benzema on the left of the area, and the Frenchman showed supreme composure to curl the ball into the opposite corner, and kill off the contest.

Di Maria was brought down in the area in the final minutes, allowing Adebayor the chance to add a fourth, but his kick was as weak as Pinillos’ had been earlier in the half, and in the end Madrid had to settle for three goals.

Their win reduces the gap to leaders Barcelona back to seven points, while Racing remain in relegation trouble, lying just four points above the bottom three.