Saturday afternoon's early La Liga clash pitted Granada against in-form Real Madrid.
The visitors took just two minutes to open the scoring, with Cristiano Ronaldo rattling in his 17th league goal of the season.
There was to be one more goal in the first period, with James Rodriguez making it 2-0 to Los Blancos before the break.
Karim Benzema made it 3-0 after 54 minutes, before James grabbed his second late on.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! The first of Sports Mole's three back-to-back live La Liga commentaries comes from Los Carmenes as Granada welcome in-form Real Madrid. Right, before we get down to the details, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from this Spanish clash.
TEAMS
GRANADA: Roberto; Nyom, Babin, Murillo, Carlos; Foulquier, Iturra, Eddy, Sissoko; Cordoba, Success
REAL MADRID: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Isco; James, Benzema, Ronaldo
So there we have it. Granada will seemingly line up in a 4-4-2 formation this afternoon, with Jhon Cordoba and Isaac Success providing the legs in attack. There is also a start for on-loan Udinese midfielder Abdoul Sissoko, while Spaniard Eddy Silvestre is also given a spot in midfield for the hosts.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has gone with the same XI that started El Clasico last week. Gareth Bale is still not fit for the European champions, leaving Isco in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, will hope to add to his 16 league goals - incredible - this term.
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, Real Madrid have won four of the last five matches, with Granada also picking up one victory. Last season, Real won 1-0 in this stadium, before recording a 2-0 victory over Granada at the Bernabeu. However, Granada's win over Los Blancos did come in this stadium – a 1-0 success in February 2013. In truth, it is a big ask for the hosts this afternoon.
Granada made an extremely strong start to the season, taking eight points from their first four league games, but they have now not won in five, with that run of form including four defeats. That said, they ended their losing run last time out with a point at Eibar. This, however, is a different test entirely.
As it stands, the home side sit 14th in the table on nine points. At home, they have won just one of their four matches, losing twice in the process. Meanwhile, on the road, they have won one, drawn two and lost two. Despite a strong start, they are now just four points outside of the La Liga relegation zone.
Real Madrid, however, are the form team in La Liga right now. They lost two of their first three league games of the season, but have since won their last six to move into third position in the table. Last weekend, they were 3-1 winners over Barcelona at the Bernabeu, which blew the title race wide open.
Indeed, three points for the visitors this afternoon would move them top of La Liga, at least for the next couple of hours. Los Blancos were also in Copa del Rey action on Wednesday, with Ancelotti's side recording a 4-1 win over Cornella. It is all going very swimmingly for the capital side at the moment.
PREDICTION! Have a look at what I had to say about this match here...
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Granada cause a shock here? Or will Real Madrid continue their winning run? The hosts get the first 45 minutes underway.
Ronaldo is immediately involved for the away side as the Portuguese drives down the left, but the attacker is surrounded by four red and white shirts and the danger is cleared. You just get the feeling that Granada need to keep Real Madrid at bay for the opening 10 or 15 minutes here.
GOAL! Granada 0-1 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Well, that did not take long! The visitors lead here as Benzema rolls a cross into Ronaldo, who angles his effort into the bottom corner. Stunning finish from the best player in the world right now. What a start!
The home side attempt to respond down the other end with Success, who has plenty of pace and movement, but the teenager runs into Pepe and the danger is cleared. End-to-end stuff with four minutes played.
This match is being played at such a quick pace at the moment, with both sides prepared to commit numbers in the final third. Granada are extremely open in defence, which is handing the visitors all sorts of space and the likes of Modric and Kroos are attempting to feed Ronaldo at every opportunity.
CHANCE! Another wonderful chance for the away side as James sets up Benzema inside the box, but Murillo is across to make a brilliant block at the vital moment. Isco then tries his luck, but his effort curls high and wide of the crossbar. Good grief what an opening eight minutes here!
The Granada supporters let out a huge roar as Success falls in the box under pressure from Ramos, but the referee is not interested - it would have been a harsh decision. It must be said that there is a stunning atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment. This is a proper, proper game of football.
More frustration from the home supporters as the visitors have a free kick just outside the box. The ball is worked short to Modric, who delivers towards the far past, but Ramos cannot make contact.
In fairness to Granada, it has been a strong response from the home side, with crosses into the Real Madrid box certainly causing a threat. Foulquier finds himself in a central position for the hosts, but the Frenchman loses possession before fouling Kroos. There must be more goals in this match!
Real Madrid are camped outside the Granada box at the moment, with the home side sitting in and attempting to contain the threat. Marcelo - Madrid's left-back - finds himself in the centre-forward position, but the Brazilian was just offside when collecting a beautiful through pass from Ronaldo.
Granada keep getting to the edge of the Real Madrid box, almost exactly in the same position, but they have been unable to take that next step thus far. That said, there are plenty of encouraging signs for the home supporters, with Cordoba and Success looking extremely dangerous in the final third.
Half-chance for James after stunning work from Ronaldo outside the Granada box, but James's effort is high and wide of the crossbar. Ronaldo is just playing on a different planet at the moment.
The visitors continue to look dangerous, with Isco and James both having efforts from distance, but Roberto is equal to the danger on both occasions. The home supporters continue to back their side, who have plenty of pace, but little invention in the final third. The opening 22 minutes have just flown past here.
Success appears to have a problem for the home side after falling just outside the Real Madrid box, but the teenager does return to the field moments later. Benzema has a half-chance down the other end after collecting a cross and spinning inside the box, but his effort is straight at Roberto.
CHANCE! Incredibly, Real Madrid have not committed a single foul thus far, but the home side have given away seven free kicks. From the most recent set piece, Los Blancos pass and probe outside the box before Ronaldo finds Carvajal, but the Spaniard fires high and wide from close range.
Just a reminder that, as it stands, Real Madrid are moving top of La Liga. Granada, however, continue to offer a threat in the final third. Again it is Success who causes problems, with his pace opening up a gap in the final third, but the Nigerian cannot find his strike partner Cordoba in the Real Madrid box.
Carvajal continues to threaten for the away side as the right-back drives past two challenges before driving into the box, but Carlos is across to clear for a corner. The pressure continues from Los Blancos, who face a couple of throws, but eventually Granada manage to clear their lines once more.
GOAL! Granada 0-2 Real Madrid (James)
Oh my word what a goal! Real Madrid have their second here as James meets one out of the sky before rattling his effort into the top corner. Benzema played his part, but it was James with the finish.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Ramos tumbles under a challenge from Success, before Cordoba picks up the pieces inside the box, but Pepe is across to make the challenge. Ramos appears to have some pretty serious stud marks on his stomach, but the Spaniard returns to the field.
Another half-chance for the home side as Foulquier drives down the right before delivering a cross into Cordoba, but Pepe just does enough to ease the striker out of the way. Good defending.
Carvajal appears to have pulled his hamstring here...
SUB! The change is made as Arbeloa replaces Carvajal for Real Madrid.
BOOKING! Eddy goes into the book for a late challenge on Modric.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the latter stages of the half, with the away side in control of the possession. It is going to be very difficult for the home team to find a way back into this match.
Half-chance for Eddy as the Spaniard strikes one from outside the box, but his effort was always moving high of the crossbar. The referee, meanwhile, has been forced to slow the tempo in the last few minutes following a couple of late challenges. The interval is fast approaching in this La Liga clash.
BOOKING! Modric is booked for a late challenge on Eddy.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes and Granada have a free kick in a dangerous position as Carlos is felled by Arbeloa in a wide area...
... the resulting set piece is delivered by Eddy, but Pepe is on hand to clear with a towering header.
Granada have another free kick moments later when Ramos brings Iturra to the ground, but once more the set piece comes to nothing as Carlos fires high and wide of the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: Granada 0-2 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to an end, with Real Madrid leading 2-0 courtesy of goals from Ronaldo and James. Granada have had some bright moments on the counter attack, but have largely struggled to create clear openings. It is the visitors in control at the interval here.
STATS! Real Madrid have dominated possession with 73%, while they have had seven attempts - three of which have been on target. Granada, meanwhile, have hit the target with just one of their three attempts. There have also been two yellow cards, with Eddy and Modric in the book.
BENCH WATCH! The home side have plenty of attacking options on their bench this afternoon with the likes of Larsson, El Arabi, Rochina and Yuste all available. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are without the injured Gareth Bale, but Javier Hernandez is on the bench for the visitors.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Granada find a way back into this match? It is the home side that get the second 45 minutes of action underway.
SUB! One change for the home side at the break, with Marquez replacing Eddy.
As expected, the visitors have started the second period on the front foot, with Ronaldo and Benzema both linking in the final third. Granada have a chance to test Casillas as Cordoba has possession outside the box, but his effort is straight into the arms of the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
SUB! Granada are forced into their second change as El-Arabi replaces Success, who appears to have tweaked his calf in the early stages of the second half. Big blow for him.
Half-chance for the away side as Ronaldo strikes one from outside the box, but his effort is straight into the arms of Roberto, who does well to hold on. Not too much in terms of clear opportunities in the early stages of the second period, but the visitors are in control here.
Granada call for a penalty as Isco appears to bring Iturra down inside the box, but replays have shown that the Granada midfielder had handled when collecting the ball. Good decision from the referee. The second period is almost 10 minutes old and the home side have just started to find their feet here.
GOAL! Granada 0-3 Real Madrid (Benzema)
Real Madrid have their third of the afternoon as Ronaldo finds Benzema with a beautiful back-heel, before the Frenchman finishes expertly into the bottom corner. Good night Granada!
Little over 30 minutes of this contest remaining and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will surely consider making changes ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Liverpool. Los Blancos are just in scary form at the moment and this could yet get a lot worse for the home side here.
CROSSBAR! Marcelo comes close to making it number four for Real Madrid, but his effort from distance smashes the crossbar before dropping behind for a goal kick.
Again it is excellent work from Ronaldo as another back-heel finds Marcelo inside the box, but his effort is deflected high and wide of the crossbar. The resulting corner is delivered into the box, but Carlos is on hand to clear the danger. Still 3-0 Real Madrid with 61 minutes on the clock here.
Another half-chance for the away side as Marcelo delivers an excellent cross towards Benzema, but Murillo just does enough to clear ahead of the Frenchman, who looked certain to nod home. The home side just cannot get out their own half at the moment as Kroos fires high and wide of the crossbar.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of moments, with the referee forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. That third goal from the visitors has just taken the heart out of Granada's performance, which in truth, is not too much of a surprise.
Ronaldo is having a lot of fun at the moment as the attacker shows wonderful feet on the edge of the box before sliding a pass into James, but the Colombian had just moved into an offside position.
SUB! Granada make their final change as Rochina replaces Cordoba.
CHANCE! How has he not scored? Incredible chance for the home side to open their tally for the afternoon as Rochina collects a loose ball inside the box before turning and attempting to find the bottom corner, but Ramos is across to make the block. Rochina really should have scored.
Half-chance for Sissoko this time, but the Frenchman heads high of the crossbar following good work from Foulquier. The home side are offering a threat in the final third - about time!
Little over 15 minutes of this contest remaining and the visitors are heading for the top of the table. Still no movement on their bench, however, which is a surprise at this stage of proceedings.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of moments, with the referee forced to intervene following a couple of late challenges. Sami Khedira, meanwhile, is preparing to enter for Madrid.
SUB! Second Real Madrid change as Khedira replaces Modric.
Marcelo continues to threaten for the visitors as the left-back collects a pass from Benzema in acres of space, but the defender fires high and wide of the crossbar. You just get the feeling that Real Madrid fancy a fourth here with little over 10 minutes of football remaining in this La Liga affair.
Carlos takes a nasty one from Arbeloa, but the Granada left-back does return to his feet following a period of treatment. In truth, this second period has been a slight non-event in terms of chances, with Real Madrid doing much of the damage in the first 45 minutes.
OFF THE LINE! Ramos comes to his side's rescue after Foulquier had danced into the Real Madrid box and rolled one towards the bottom corner. Brilliant from the Spanish international.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the away side to score their fourth as Isco finds Arbeloa inside the Granada box, but Roberto makes an excellent save to deny the full-back.
SUB! Third and final change for Madrid as Illarramendi replaces Isco.
Just a reminder that following this match, we have live commentary of Atletico versus Cordoba so be sure to remain with us for that! Atletico have some ground to make up on the new league leaders Real Madrid, who are keeping possession in the latter stages of this La Liga contest.
GOAL! Granada 0-4 Real Madrid (James)
Los Blancos have their fourth of the afternoon as James turns home on the line following a loose strike from Ronaldo, who had attempted to finish a low cross from Benzema.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side down the other end as El-Arabi drives a low cross towards Marquez, but the Spaniard just cannot make contact.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes.
BOOKING! Arbeloa is booked for a late challenge on Sissoko.
The resulting free kick is taken by Carlos, but Casillas makes the save.
FULL-TIME: Granada 0-4 Real Madrid
So there we have it. Real Madrid more top of La Liga with a 4-0 win over Granada. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to remain with us for Atletico against Cordoba, which can now also be found on the site. Until then!
