Real Madrid beats Malaga 2-1 securing top place in league

Real Madrid achieved a difficult win at home against Malaga 2-1 on Saturday in the nineteenth week of La Liga, after two defeats in a row.

Los Blancos took the lead when Sergio Ramos powerfully headed home from a corner for his fifth league goal of the season. 

His sixth didn't take long to follow, with Ramos prodding home after another expert Toni Kroos cross from a free-kick. Ramos' eye for goal with the German's laser-point accuracy is a deadly weapon for Madrid.

There was fortune though, as replayes indicated Ramos was fractionally offside before netting.

There was nearly a third for Madrid before the break when Villanueva turned Benzema's cross onto his own bar, but it bounced to safety.

Malaga fought back in the second half, with Juanpi netting the rebound after Keylor Navas saved from Juankar. They nearly equalised immediately after when Navas fisted away Chory's shot.

Madrid tried to extend their lead with Ronaldo cracking an effort off the post, while Kameni nearly made a horrendous error as he let the ball roll past him, but he made amends by running back, scything it off the line and then saving the follow-up from Ronaldo.

They triumphed in the end and remain top of the league at the halfway point of the season, with Sevilla and Barcelona to play on Sunday.