Real Madrid News ®: Granada 1-2 Real Madrid

League champs turn score around and end matchday with 97 points; Ronaldo scores from a penalty and Cortes nets own goal for Whites

Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

Real Madrid are only one victory away from taking a record 100 points in La Liga. Mourinho's side won in Granada with many new faces on the lineup. The locals fought hard and scored the opener, but Real Madrid went all out to win after half-time.

Adan, Varane, Albiol, Sahin and Granero made the starting eleven. Granada need one point to avoid relegation and had a strong start, netting the opener in the fourth minute through Jara, who managed to nutmeg Adan.

They looked for more goals and Adan and Marcelo were forced to team up for a clearance on the 6-minute mark. Real Madrid were more relaxed than usual and the locals used this to make steals and play with more intensity. Adan cleared a free-kick with his fists in the 20th minute and Real gradually started to dominate more: Sahin sent the ball over the crossbar with a distant shot (35') and Ronaldo nearly netted an equaliser from a header that missed the target by mere inches (41').

Xabi Alonso and Higuain replaced Sahin and Kaka in the second half and the team's performance became more intense. Julio Cesar cleared a Benzema shot on the 58-minute mark and Callejon came on for Di Maria soon after (59'). Cristiano Ronaldo nearly finished off a strong cross, clearly showing the Whites deserved a goal. The Portuguese striker again had a great chance, but a shot of his on the goal-line was saved by Julio Cesar (63').

Moises tackled Ronaldo in the box and the Madridista converted the penalty. The Whites wanted more and Granada started to look nervous after the goal, with Cortes eventually netting an own goal in extra time following a Benzema cross that Higuain didn't finish off (92').

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