Real Madrid on brink of La Liga title as pressure mounts on Barcelona

Comfortable win over Alaves means Zidane's stars could be champions on Monday

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema controls the ball. AFP

Karim Benzema celebrates next to Alaves' Spanish defender Ximo Navarro after scoring from the penalty spot. AFP

Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid and Alaves at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas near Madrid on July 10, 2020. / AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio (R) celebrates with Karim Benzema after scoring against Deportivo Alaves. EPA

Zinedine Zidane jokes with Casemiro. Getty

Marco Asensio, left, scores the second goal, AP

Karim Benzema after suffering an injury. EPA

Real Madrid players celebrate the second goal. EPA

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is substituted for Eden Hazard. Reuters

Eden Hazard in action. AFP

Zinedine Zidane gives instructions to the Real players. Getty

Real Madrid could win La Liga on Monday after a comfortable 2-0 win over Alaves put them within touching distance of the title.

With suspended skipper Sergio Ramos sitting in the stands, Karim Benzema took over the armband and then penalty duties, firing in from the spot before teeing up Marco Asensio to add a second at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.

After restoring their four-point advantage at the top of the table, the pressure is back on Barcelona.

If Barca fail to win away at Real Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid will clinch the title with two games to spare by beating Granada on Monday at Los Carmenes.

Yet even if Madrid have to wait, it seems inevitable they will lift the trophy as they also boast a superior head-to-head record against Barcelona with three games left.

"We still don't know what is going to happen," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. "La Liga is very hard and we have three finals still to go."

After sacking coach Asier Garitano last week following five consecutive defeats, Alaves never looked likely to cause an upset.

The defeat in Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's first game in charge leaves them hovering above the relegation zone, only three points ahead of Real Mallorca, who have hope after their win over Levante on Thursday.

Zidane will be relieved all the same, particularly as he had to do without a string of key players.

Ramos and Dani Carvajal were both banned while Marcelo was injured, taking out three of Real's regular back four.

Eden Hazard was unable to start but came on in the second half to ease concerns about niggling problems with his ankle.

A makeshift defence, including Lucas Vazquez at right-back, chalked up another clean sheet, Real's fifth in a row for the first time in 12 years. It is also their sixth in eight games since the restart.

Alaves might have broke that run in the first few minutes as Joselu headed against the crossbar and Lucas Perez's follow-up had to be cleared off the line by Varane.

Eder Militao then had to make a perfectly timed challenge to prevent Perez going clear.

But Real survived and then took the lead in the 11th minute, Ferland Mendy driving to the line and going down under the sliding tackle of Ximo Navarro, who caught him with his trailing leg.

Benzema scored the penalty for his 23rd goal of the season.

Oliver Burke twice caused Real problems with weaving runs forward before Benzema hurt his neck from an awkward fall on the stroke of half-time.

Benzema was able to continue but injured referee Gil Manzano was replaced by Rodriguez Carpallo, whose first big decision was to allow Real's second goal.

Rodrygo did well to power his way through midfield before freeing Benzema, who raced forward and set up Asensio to tap in. Replays showed Benzema had timed his run perfectly and the goal stood.

Thibaut Courtois had to make two smart saves but Real were cruising by the end.