Real Madrid News ®: Osasuna 1-5 Real Madrid

Leaders pull rank in Pamplona with goals by Ronaldo (2), Higuain (2) and Benzema

Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

Real Madrid showed just why they're the leaders in La Liga with an impressive 5-1 victory against Osasuna in Pamplona. Goals were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Gonzalo HIguain (2) and Karim Benzema, and the team overall gave a fearsome impression.

Albiol and Granero made the starting lineup and Benzema, Higuain and Ronaldo played together in attack. Real scored their first goal through a Benzema volley through the top corner of the goal seven minutes in. The Frenchman was assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo. Osasuna didn't seem to know how to react to this and hardly approached Casillas' goal, while the Whites continued to dominate and look for a counterattack with which to seal the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo controlled the ball on the 36-minute mark and scored from an impressive 30 meter shot that silenced the stands. It was his 36th strike in La Liga and it helped the Whites control the rest of the match thanks to the locals' weakness. Three minutes later, Granero served a long pass to Higuain and the Argentine easily defeated Andres (39').

With nothing left to lose, Osasuna went all out for a goal after half-time, and found it with a Nino header following a cross by Roversio (47'). Despite newfound confidence, Real Madrid continued playing a solid game and eventually scored again when a Ronaldo free-kick was deflected by Lekic (69').

There was more to come. Cristiano Ronaldo served a great ball to Higuain, who headed it in on the 77-minute mark to tally the team's 100th goal in the championship this season. Coentrao, Varane and Di Maria came on, the latter making his first appearance after a near two month injury.

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