Real Madrid vs Cadiz 2-1 La Liga Highlights

Real Madrid continue to go stride-for-stride with Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings, closing the gap back to just two points with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Cádiz.

Sitting five points behind leaders Barcelona after seeing their 12-match unbeaten league run ended by near-neighbours Rayo Vallecano last time out, Real prowled for vengeance against a Pirates side sitting in the relegation zone.

In the club's final contest before the FIFA World Cup break, Cádiz more than held their own in the early stages and saw Álex Fernández hit the bar with a speculative effort early on.

The side from the Spanish capital struggled to impose themselves in a tetchy first half which saw multiple cautions, though Vini Jr remained a threat down the left-hand side.

Their persistent efforts were eventually rewarded minutes before HT however, when Éder Militão nodded in from a whipped Toni Kroos cross, making it three goals for the season on his personal slate – all, coincidentally, arriving via a first-half header.

When Cádiz headed to the Bernabéu last December they were in a similar position to where they are now, but the Pirates looked little like the side who scraped to a draw back then, as they struggled to break through the lines of white.

When given a rare chance for the visitors, Rubén Sobrino should have done better after being found in space, but fired his shot straight at Thibaut Courtois, before Federico Valverde misplaced his shot from the edge of the box with the game starting to look stretched.

Real were still some way off their trademark swagger, but Kroos reminded all in attendance why they are the kings of Spain, hitting a 25-yard piledriver past a helpless Jeremias Ledesma.

Despite being the most seasoned champion on the pitch, Luka Modrić then inexplicably failed to add to the scoreline from just yards out, in a Real performance that was far from vintage, which led to Lucas Pérez smashing home after chaos in the hosts' penalty area.

Alfonso Espino then headed over a golden opportunity to leave the Pirates wondering what could have been, but they can take some encouragement from this showing, despite being unable to escape the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are now unbeaten in 13 home games, and their relentless duel with Barcelona for the crown will resume on New Years' Eve with a trip to Valladolid.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g4l7q0WNafw&feature=share