Real Madrid march on with eighth straight win

Benzema

There was little to separate the sides until just before the break when Karim Benzema opened the scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo broke down the left and crossed low into the middle where Sergio Asenjo dived to punch the ball clear. It only went as far as Benzema, however, and the Frenchman headed into the empty net for his 23rd of the campaign.

Here's how @Benzema celebrated breaking the deadlock tonight!

Real Madrid 1-0 Villarreal#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/gF6oupoPR6

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) April 20, 2016

Suarez v Navas

Villarreal made life difficult for the hosts with Denis Suarez causing the home defence most problems. He forced a smart save from Keylor Navas, but they were unable to exert the control on the game they managed earlier in the season when they won 1-0 at the Madrigal.

Lucas Vazquez

Lucas Vazquez has impressed every time he’s been given minutes and he rose to the occasion once again in the second half. The former youth team player cut off the right flank, played a one-two with Benzema, and drove towards the area before unleashing a powerful drive inside the near post.  It was his third goal of the campaign.

Rare Modric goal

Danilo laid on the goal that sealed the victory, for Luka Modric, soon after. The Brazilian broke away down the right and curled a ball into the area, where Modric met it with a first-time shot to beat Asenjo. It was the Croatian’s second goal this season.

Eight on the trot

It was Real Madrid’s eighth victory in a row in LaLiga and kept Zinedine Zidane’s side firmly in the race for the title. They stayed one point behind the leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid, with four matches left to play.