Jude Bellingham scored on his return to action as Real Madrid beat lowly Cadiz 3-0 to move to the top of LaLiga.
Bellingham had missed the last two games for Los Blancos after suffering a shoulder injury in the 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano which also saw him ruled out on England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
But the 20-year-old looked back to his best as he scored for the 11th time in 12 league appearances this season after being set up by Rodrygo, whose earlier brace had set the away side on their way to an impressive win.
Real went close to taking the lead in the third minute when Dani Carvajal’s attempted cross took a big deflection and almost caught out goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma, who was moving to his right in anticipation.
And the visitors did not have to wait long to break the deadlock in brilliant fashion, Rodrygo curling a right-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the area in the 14th minute.
Bellingham then failed to make enough contact on a dangerous cross from Luka Modric and the England midfielder also headed over after Chris Ramos sliced an attempted clearance back towards his own goal.
Cadiz were also creating chances and Roger Marti almost equalised with a left-footed shot which looked destined for the top corner until Andriy Lunin threw himself to his left and tipped the ball wide.
More goals always looked on the cards in an entertaining contest and, after Modric had struck the base of a post after 64 minutes, Real eventually doubled their lead on the counter-attack, Bellingham feeding Rodrygo to curl another superb finish beyond the despairing dive of Ledesma.
Rodrygo soon repaid the favour, finding Bellingham in acres of space on the left side of the area and he drilled a left-footed shot unerringly into the far corner.
With the points secure and games looming against Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday and Granada in the league three days later, it was no surprise to see Carlo Ancelotti substitute his star duo four minutes after Bellingham’s goal.
To their credit, Cadiz continued to press forward in pursuit of a goal that their performance deserved and Brian Ocampo’s injury-time effort was well saved by Lunin, but the defeat leaves them 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.
Real moved a point above Girona at the top of the table ahead of the latter’s game at home to Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
Benzema: No team capable of being better than Real Madrid
Karim Benzema does not believe there is a team capable of being better than "best in the world" Real Madrid.
The Frenchman left Madrid in 2023 after 14 years in which he won 25 major trophies, including five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four LaLiga titles.
He scored 354 goals for Los Blancos in 648 appearances before joining Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
Following his departure, Madrid won LaLiga and lifted their 15th Champions League title last season, and Benzema backs them to follow that up without a challenge.
"A spectacular season, very good," Benzema told Marca. "Real Madrid is always the best team in the world.
"Players come and go, but Real Madrid will always be at the top, at the very top. It is the best and will continue to prove it.
"It's the best team in the world. It's always strong and fighting for everything. I stand there, look around and don't see any team that's capable of being better.
"They have everything. Players, coach and president."
Benzema's old shirt number has recently been filled following the signing of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
He will slot into a team full of players being tipped to win the Ballon d'Or this year, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior among the favourites.
Benzema, who won the prize in 2022, has tipped the Brazilian to lift the individual award after he finished as Madrid's top scorer in all competitions, netting 24 goals.
"I'm going to say Vini because he deserves it for his season and not just for what he's done this year, but also for what he's done last year, he was also above the rest with his football and what he does with the ball. He's a kid, a complete footballer," Benzema added.
"He can win a game on his own, of course, with the help of his teammates, but he is very good when Real Madrid needs him and that is why I think he deserves it.
"He is always there, and he always shows up. For all of that, my favourite is Vini."
Carvajal tipped for surprise Ballon d'Or win by former Madrid team-mate Joselu
Dani Carvajal has been tipped to beat his Real Madrid team-mates Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham to the Ballon d'Or by Joselu.
Both Vinicius and Bellingham have been touted as contenders for football's top individual honour after helping Madrid win LaLiga and the Champions League.
Vinicius contributed 36 goal involvements throughout 2023-24 (23 goals, 13 assists) with Bellingham managing 33 (24 goals, nine assists), the latter assisting the former for Los Blancos' second goal in their Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund.
It was right-back Carvajal, however, who opened the scoring in that showpiece game at Wembley Stadium, and he went on to play a key role as Spain won Euro 2024.
He started five of La Roja's seven matches in Germany and his performances have earned him the support of Joselu – who left Madrid for Qatari side Al-Gharafa last month.
The striker said of Carvajal, as quoted by AS: "I have always said it, he is the one who deserves it the most.
"He has won everything there is to win, scoring goals, being important, the MVP in finals… he would be more than a deserved winner."
Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the Ballon d'Or in 2006, when he captained Italy to World Cup glory.
Fourteen of the last 15 editions of the award have been won by an attacker, with midfielder Luka Modric (in 2018) the only non-forward to win it in that time. Lionel Messi (eight times), Cristiano Ronaldo (five) and Karim Benzema (once) have all claimed it during that span.
Modric signs one-year contract extension with Real Madrid
Luka Modric has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at Real Madrid until June 2025.
The 38-year-old's previous contract expired at the end of June, but he has reached an agreement to play a 13th season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Modric signed for Madrid from Tottenham in 2012 and has since made 534 appearances in all competitions, scoring 39 goals and providing 83 assists.
He boasts a club-record 26 trophies, including six Champions League, five Club World Cups, four European Super Cups and four LaLiga titles.
In 46 appearances last season, with many of those off the bench, he scored twice and assisted six goals.
The announcement also confirmed that Modric will be the new club captain following Nacho's departure last month.
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