Real Madrid turned an awkward away fixture against battling Osasuna into a routine win as they took another step towards regaining the title.
Zinedine Zidane’s side knew this was a potential slip-up and after 14 minutes they were behind.
Unai Garcia dive-headed a corner past Thibaut Courtois from the 12 yards out.
But Madrid kept their heads and were soon level.
Gareth Bale was in the team for his first start in the league since January 4 and on 33 minutes he was involved in the equaliser.
His shot was half blocked and when it ballooned up to the impressive Isco, he volleyed it past Sergio Herrera to make it 1-1.
It was Sergio Ramos who put Real Madrid ahead.
Luka Modric’s deep corner was headed back across the face of the goal by Casemiro and Ramos headed in from close range.
Osasuna’s fiery fans were irate.
Ramos had got away with an awful challenge on Ruben Garcia earlier.
The captain should have been carded and the card could have been red, but the foul on Ruben Garcia’s left ankle went unpunished and now he had risen to nod his team into the lead.
Ramos’ was not the last borderline challenge of the game.
Nacho Vidal flew into Fede Valverde and was given a yellow card.
And Iñigo Perez then went in late on Lucas Vazquez and was, like Ramos, not even cautioned.
Lucas it was who put daylight between Real Madrid and Osasuna.
The substitute, who replaced Bale on 70 minutes, got the third with five minutes left.
Modric played Karim Benzema through the middle and he intelligently delayed his pass, waiting for Lucas to run in behind the Osasuna defence and shoot past Herrera who got a hand to the shot but could not keep the ball out.
Luka Jovic put the cherry on top of the pie for Madrid.
The Serbian has struggled for goals but, on as a late substitute, he blasted the ball into the roof of the net to make it 4-1 on 92 minutes from Fede Valverde’s pass.
The maestro Modric had played in Valverde.
He had run the game from midfield and made a tough game straightforward.
With the Croatian finding his best form, Jovic in the goals, and Bale back involved, everything is coming together for Zidane with Manchester City on the horizon.
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