Real Madrid sealed their 20th
victory in a row in all competitions as Cristiano Ronaldo scored two more goals
in a victory at Almeria.
Real
have won every match since 13 September and are four off
the world record of Brazilians Coritiba in 2011.
The
visitors led 2-1 at half-time with Isco and Gareth Bale scoring either side of
Verza's strike for Almeria. Continue...
Iker
Casillas saved a Verza penalty before Ronaldo's late brace took his season
tally to 32 goals in 23 games.
The
last time Real Madrid failed to win a match was their 2-1 defeat by
Atletico Madrid almost three months ago.
They
broke Barcelona's Spanish record of 18 wins in a row on Tuesday
against Ludogorets in the Champions League - and few predicted anything other
than a comfortable 20th consecutive victory in Friday's trip to Andalusia.
Almeria, who dropped into the
bottom three on goal difference with the defeat, had Miguel Rivera in caretaker
charge for one game after the sacking of Francisco Javier Rodriguez, with Juan
Ignacio Martinez taking over after this match.
It took
Carlo Ancelotti's side 34 minutes to take the lead through Isco's fantastic
curling effort, the midfielder starting in place of the injured James
Rodriguez. But five minutes later Verza had levelled with a stunning
half-volley.
However
they trailed at half-time through Gareth Bale's header from Toni Kroos's cross.
The turning point of the game
came when Almeria won a penalty midway through the second half but Casillas
guessed right to keep out Verza's effort.
Ronaldo
had a poor game with his only contribution until the 81st minute being a yellow
card - but he scored two late goals, with a near-post effort and a shot into an
empty net, taking his tally to 25 goals in 14 La Liga games this season.
Real
are now five points clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, as they
prepare to go to Morocco for the Club World Cup.
They
take on Cruz Azul or Western Sydney Wanderers in Tuesday's semi-final, with the
final to be played next Saturday.
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