Real Madrid overpower Cadiz in close encounter

Real Madrid brushed aside the challenge of Cadiz as they beat them 2-0 to go within 10 points of Barcelona and five points above Atletico Madrid. 

Los Blancos hosted Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabeu as they looked to get back to winning ways. The game looked headed for an unfavourable outcome for the team in white, as they kept failing to turn chances into goals, but late moments of brilliance saw them overpower their visitors.

Carlo Ancelotti named a rotated squad, giving rest to key players, with the Champions League midweek clash against Chelsea in mind.  

This meant Madrid were slow out the gate, but they soon got into rhythm and started to threaten to blow their opposition out of the water; however, profligacy meant the tie stayed level in the first-half even with a late flurry at the end of the half. 

The first 45 saw spells in which Cadiz had incursions of their own through offensive transitions; the second, on the other hand, was all about the hosts, who turned it up several notches. 

Despite an intensified effort, the match stayed level until a series of substitutions on the 70-minute mark seemed to destabilise the Yellow Submarines, opening them up to a brilliant effort from range by Nacho Fernandes in the 72nd minute to give the hosts the lead.  

Cadiz's resistance was broken, and they conceded a second only four minutes after their goal was first breached.

Federico Valverde found Marco Asensio in the right half-space in the box, and the Spanish midfielder made no mistake in finding the bottom left corner. 

Ancelotti's men should and could have scored more goals before and after their quick-fire double, however, the two goals were enough to overcome the challenge of Cadiz, who had an unsuccessful late flurry of their own. 

The win ensured Madrid stayed in second place, staving off the risk of being leapfrogged by local rivals Atletico Madrid for at least one more game week.