Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid made it three wins from three at the start of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign with a 4-1 home success over Leganes on Saturday night.
Benzema's brace was supplemented by efforts from Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos as the European champions continued their strong start to the new season.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live coverage of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Bernabeu as Real Madrid welcome Leganes. Real Madrid have opened their 2018-19 La Liga campaign with back-to-back wins over Getafe and Girona. Leganes, meanwhile, have collected one point from their first two matches - losing to Athletic Bilbao before drawing with Real Sociedad. Stay tuned for the action!
Real Madrid won both league matches between the two teams last term - following a 3-1 success in the away fixture with a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu. That said, Leganes incredibly beat Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey last season, with a 2-1 success at the Bernabeu seeing them progress on away goals. Leganes know what it takes to win in this stadium, no question about that.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Bernabeu. Any surprises in either starting XI tonight? Let's have a look at the two sides...
TEAMS!
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
LEGANES: Cuellar; Juanfran, Bustinza, Siovas, Silva; Gumbau, R.Perez, Eraso; El Zhar, Carrillo, Santos
The big team news for Real Madrid is that Thibaut Courtois makes his debut for the Spanish giants - replacing Keylor Navas between the sticks. Raphael Varane and Luka Modric are also back in the XI after being eased into action following their involvement in the 2018 World Cup final. Meanwhile, it is once again Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio in the final third.
As for Leganes, Michael Santos comes into the XI after impressing off the bench in his team's 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad last time out. Nabil El Zhar scored twice against the Basque outfit and keeps his spot in the final third, while on-loan Southampton attacker Guido Carrillo leads the line.
The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at the Bernabeu. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Real Madrid. As mentioned, the capital outfit have beaten Getafe and Girona in their first two matches of the 2018-19 campaign.
Goals from Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale saw Real Madrid record a 2-0 win over Getafe on the opening weekend, before thumping Girona 4-1 in Catalonia last time out. Borja Garcia actually sent Girona ahead on the night, but Real Madrid answered back impressively to make it two wins from two.
Real Madrid will be desperate to make it three straight wins ahead of the international break, and they are not back in La Liga action until September 15 - when they visit Athletic Bilbao. The Champions League also returns this month, and Los Blancos have been drawn into Group G with Roma, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen. Lopetegui's side start against Roma on September 19.
Despite Real Madrid's Champions League triumph last season, they finished down in third position in La Liga - 17 points off the champions Barcelona. Los Blancos were just not good enough in the league last term as they relinquished the title having won just 22 of their 38 matches.
Lopetegui is, of course, in the hot seat having replaced Zinedine Zidane as head coach. The 51-year-old was due to lead Spain at the 2018 World Cup, but was sacked on the eve of the tournament after taking the Real Madrid post. Zidane won one La Liga title and three Champions League crowns during his time in the position, and Lopetegui has some act to follow.
Leganes, meanwhile, have collected one point from their two La Liga matches at the start of the 2018-19 campaign. Indeed, Mauricio Pellegrino's side began their season with a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on August 20, before drawing 2-2 at home to Real Sociedad last time out.
Los Pepineros have actually finished 17th in each of the last two seasons, and it is shaping up to be another difficult campaign for the club. They will certainly be among the teams battling to stay in the division this term, and it is a big ask to expect them to pick up a positive result in this match.
In terms of what is ahead for Leganes, they will welcome Villarreal on September 16 in their first game after the international break, before finishing the month with matches against Eibar, Barcelona and Real Betis. It is vital that Pellegrino's side pick up their first three points as soon as possible.
Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at the Bernabeu. Can Leganes upset Real Madrid tonight? Stay tuned right here to find out!
KICKOFF: Real Madrid kick things off at the Bernabeu...
... as expected, Real Madrid have started on the front foot, but Leganes have a lot of attacking players on the pitch tonight, and it should be an open and entertaining game of football here.
YELLOW CARD! Modric (Real Madrid) is booked for a poor challenge on Carrillo.
Leganes continue to press high up the field, and that is dangerous when considering that Bale can shift a little bit. The hosts are trying to gain control of the midfield possession here.
CLOSE! Big chance for Asensio as the Real Madrid attacker breaks into the Leganes box, but the Spaniard just lifts the ball over the goal! Bright movement from Asensio there.
Carvajal breaks down the right for Real Madrid before looking to feed Bale, but Siovas is on hand to make the clearance. The away side then look to break down the field through Santos.
Almost a half-chance for Benzema as Bale finds space out wide before delivering towards the Frenchman, but he just loses the flight of the ball. Leganes are coming under some pressure.
Leganes continue to press high up the field in an attempt to regain the ball, and it will be interesting to see whether they can keep up this level of energy. Still goalless in the capital.
Real Madrid continue to deliver dangerous crosses into the Leganes box, but the away side are defending well as the first period gathers pace. Just the Asensio chance for the hosts here.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 LEGANES (BALE)
Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the 17th minute, and Bale has his third league goal of the campaign. A header from Carvajal falls into the path of Bale, and the Welshman finds the back of the net. Cuellar almost kept it out, but the ball spun into the back of the net for 1-0!
Real Madrid are firmly on the front foot at the moment. Ramos breaks into the Leganes box before delivering a cross towards Benzema, but Bustinza does well to make the clearance.
Real Madrid have had more than 80% of the ball, which is an indication of their domination.
Real Madrid have had more than 80% of the ball, which is an indication of their domination.
PENALTY! Leganes have a penalty as Casemiro brings Eraso to the ground!
PENALTY! Leganes have a penalty as Casemiro brings Eraso to the deck.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-1 LEGANES (CARRILLO, PEN)
Carrillo slides the ball into the bottom corner for 1-1 here!
YELLOW CARD! Santos (Leganes) is booked for a foul on Carvajal.
SAVE! Courtois has to make a smart save to keep out a strike from Santos!
Apologies for the lack of updates - technical problems! Luckily, not much has happened, with Real Madrid dominating the ball as Leganes sit back and defend their lines at the Bernabeu.
SAVE! Decent save from Cuellar to keep out a header from Bale.
Leganes are more than happy to leave Real Madrid with possession as we approach the break.
Kroos drops a header harmlessly wide of the post as Real Madrid look for their second of the match in the closing stages of the first period. Still having some technical issues here.
SHOT! Bale strikes over the Leganes crossbar from outside the box.
SAVE! Decent save from Cuellar to keep out a close-range Benzema effort. Real Madrid continue to search for a second goal, but Leganes, who have been very impressive, stand firm here.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 1-1 LEGANES
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Bale sent Real Madrid ahead in the 17th minute, before Leganes were level in the 23rd minute when Carrillo converted from the penalty spot. Leganes have defended very, very well here.
STATISTICS! Real Madrid dominated the first-half possession with 79%, while they had nine attempts - four of which were on target. Leganes, meanwhile, managed two shots on target from three attempts. Two yellow cards to report - Modric for the hosts and Santos for the visitors.
KICKOFF: Leganes resume the action here...
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-1 LEGANES (BENZEMA)
Benzema sends Real Madrid back ahead in the early stages of the second half as he heads an Asensio cross into the bottom corner of the net. The Frenchman's effort was initially chalked off for a foul on Jonathan Silva, but following a VAR check, Los Blancos are ahead once again!
Benzema sends Real Madrid back ahead in the early stages of the second half as he heads an Asensio cross into the bottom corner of the net. The Frenchman's effort was initially chalked off for a foul on Jonathan Silva, but following a VAR check, Los Blancos are ahead once again.
We are still having serious technical problems here, but stay with us. Real Madrid are 2-1 ahead, and Bale has just been challenged inside the Leganes box as he looked to pull the trigger.
Real Madrid continue to dominate the ball, and Kroos has just fired over the crossbar.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-1 LEGANES (BENZEMA)
Real Madrid have their third of the match, and Benzema has his second as the Frenchman finds the bottom corner with a wonderful strike following an excellent team move. Some goal that!
REAL MADRID SUB! Isco replaces Modric for the home side.
Little over 25 minutes of football remaining, and Real Madrid are comfortable here.
PENALTY! Real Madrid have a penalty as Bustinza brings Asensio to the deck!
GOAL! REAL MADRID 4-1 LEGANES (RAMOS, PEN)
Ramos sends his penalty into the back of the net for 4-1!
Little over 20 minutes of football remaining, and there are more goals in this for Real Madrid if they wish. Leganes have really struggled with the tempo of the match in the second period.
LEGANES SUBS! Vesga and En Nesyri replace Eraso and El Zhar.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining. Again, apologies if you have been following and the updates have been a bit slow. It is out of my control, but seems to have settled. Real Madrid still 4-1 ahead, with Benzema (2), Bale and Ramos on the scoresheet for the home side.
Isco delivers a dangerous low cross into the Leganes box, and it is almost an own goal!
Bale fires over the Leganes crossbar following excellent work from Asensio.
REAL MADRID SUB! Ceballos replaces Asensio for the home side.
Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Real Madrid want more goals here.
LEGANES SUB! Rolan replaces Santos for the away side.
Possession football from Real Madrid as we head for the final five minutes of action.
REAL MADRID SUB! Bale is replaced by Lucas for the home side.
Rolan drives into a shooting position, but the striker has his pocket picked, and Real Madrid are back on the front foot. Leganes have really, really struggled in the second period here.
Not too much happening as we head for the final minute of scheduled time here.
The Bernabeu is starting to empty as we head for the final stages of this match. I should not imagine that there will be too much added time. Three minutes at the absolute most.
Four minutes have actually been added. And we are into the second of those.
Benzema is absolutely full of beans here as he chases all over the park. And why not! The Frenchman has had another excellent night, and is now on three goals for the campaign.
SAVE! Smart save to keep out an effort from Isco!
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 4-1 LEGANES
