Valladolid 0-2 Real Madrid

Following Barcelona's stalemate with Espanyol and Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid, the Spanish heavyweights were level on points with the Catalan powerhouses at the top of the La Liga standings, albeit Xavi's team still leads on goal differential.

Even if it was occasionally frustrating for the spectators, the Spanish champions will have been somewhat pleased with the performance, especially having preserved a clean sheet in a stop-start encounter against difficult competition. Real Madrid dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match in their black and green away uniforms, and the referee dismissed a handball protest in the ninth minute. In the 17th minute, Los Blancos began to press Valladolid once again as Karim Benzema missed a shot from a tight angle. Vinicius Junior's brilliant move down the left gave him the opportunity.