Real Madrid can put pressure on Barcelona in the La Liga title race by closing the gap to one point, and they are on course to do so after taking the lead against Elche at the Bernabeu.

Raul Asencio’s late drop-out from the squad due to muscle discomfort meant that Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger have had to continue in central defence, and it is the latter that has opened the scoring just before the half time interval. After Fede Valverde’s initial strike from a free-kick was beaten away, the ball fell to the Germany international, who slammed a half-volley into the back of the Elche net.