Real Madrid seal comfortable win over Eibar to keep pressure on Barcelona in La Liga

Kroos, Ramos and Marcelo on target as Los Blancos cut rival's lead at top back down to two points

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  Real Madrid defender Marcelo takes a knee to celebrate his team's third goal in their victory over Eibar at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano on Sunday, June 14. AFP

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  Sergio Ramos, centre, celebrates with Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard after scoring his team's second goal against Eibar. Getty

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  Real manager Zinedine Zidane gives intructions to Casemiro and Marcelo. Getty

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  Real Madrid and Eibar players observe a minute of silence in honor of victims of the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the game. EPA

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  Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois watches Eibar go close to scoring. AFP

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  Real Madrid's Toni Kroos celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal. Reuters

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  Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic cannot stop Toni Kroos's shot hitting the back of the net. Reuters

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  Real Madrid's Toni Kroos makes it 1-0 to Real. EPA

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  Segio Alvarez of Eibar is challenged by Real's Luka Modric. Getty

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  Real Madrid's Casemiro, right, and Kike Garcia battle for the ball. AP

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  Real MAdrid substitute Gareth Bale. Getty

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  Real Madrid's Eden Hazard shoots on goal. AFP

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  Real Madrid's Rodrygo is tackled from behind by Rafa Soares of Eibar. EPA

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  Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois watches Pedro Bigas's shot trickle into the net and pull one back for Eibar. AFP

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  General view of the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano in Madrid. Reuters

Real Madrid made a winning restart to La Liga action as Zinedine Zidane's side defeated Eibar 3-1 at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano.

First half goals from Toni Kroos, captain Sergio Ramos and Marcelo gave Real a 3-0 half-time lead – and a big score looked on the way.

But Eibar made a game of it in the second half and a mistake by Real keeper Thibaut Courtois allowed Pedro Bigas to pull one back.

The win means Barcelona's lead at the top is now back down to two points over old rivals Real.

German midfielder Kroos opened the scoring with an unstoppable drive after just four minutes.

Brilliant movement and passing from Real left Eibar helpless on the half-hour mark and ended with Eden Hazard laying the ball off for Ramos to slot home the second from close range.

Marcelo made it 3-0 in fine style after 36 minutes. Eden Hazard cut in from the wing to force a save from Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, the ball is then scrambled into path of the Brazilian defender who smashed home from 15 yards.

Eibar pulled a goal back from out of the blue after an hour when Courtois somehow failed to keep out Bigas' shot from just inside the penalty area.

Zidane brought Gareth Bale and Vinicius Junior off the bench as his side attempted to recover from that shock setback.

But Eibar almost grabbed a second when Pedro Leon found himself in space a but Courtois produced a fine stop.