Eibar 1-3 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez score

Real Madrid’s mini-revival continued with a 3-1 victory over Eibar that sends them back to the top of LaLiga level on points with neighbours Atletico Madrid.

But they were let-off conceding a penalty late on when Sergio Ramos seemed to stick out an elbow in the penalty area stopping Yoshinoro Muto’s header reaching Kike Garcia.

The referee waved away the Eibar appeals and referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero was not instructed to consult the pitch-side monitor.  

Luka Modric was on the scoresheet as  Real Madrid secured a 3-1 victory away to Eibar

Karim Benzema was in inspired form for Real as he scored and also provided two assists

Lucas Vazquez ensured victory for Real as he found the net in the closing stages against Eibar

It was a lucky escape for Real Madrid who had been sensational in the first 20 minutes of the game only to be pegged back by a goal that was just as sensational. 

‘The main thing is that the referee was clear about the decision.

‘I’m not getting involved,’ said Zinedine Zidane after the game. Refereeing expert Juan Andujar told Marca: ‘Ramos makes contact with the ball with his elbow, it should be a penalty.’

Karim Benzema had set Madrid on their way with the first goal of the game after just six minutes. Rodrygo Goes played him in and after a velvet first touch he finished past Marko Dimitrovic.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 and this time Luka Modric received the plaudits smashing the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the area after Benzema had crossed from the right. 

It was sloppy from Eibar who had half cleared the Madrid attack down the right but allowed them a second chance to put the ball back into the area. 

Madrid were 3-0 up in half an hour in this fixture last season and they must have thought this game was heading the same way. Benzema should have scored again from a superb Luka Modric assist but he put his header wide of Dimitrovic’s goal. 

Benzema is congratulated by his Real Madrid team-mates following his goal against Eibar

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was pleased as he oversaw a 3-1 victory for his side

Sergio Ramo wasn’t penalised when he appeared to stick out an elbow in the area late on

From almost 3-0 down Eibar were soon back at 2-1 and it was the goal of the game from former Middlesbrough striker Kike Garcia. 

He caught Thibaut Courtois off his line with a long-distance curler that nestled into the top corner stunning the visitors.

Madrid composed themselves and played out the rest of the first half but there would be more scares to come in the second period. 

With Muto heading one effort just wide and Inui gifted the ball by Ramos but failing to finish. He was caught between trying to pick out Muto and going for goal and he did neither allowing Courtois to make the save.

Rodrigo lifted the ball over the top of Dimitrovic and the Eibar goal when he should have made it three for the visitors and then came the Ramos hand ball that wasn’t.

Vazquez celebrates with team-mates Marco Asensio and Benzema following his late goal

Kike is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring for Eibar but his side ended up losing

Benzema provided a major threat to the Eibar goal as he produced another impressive display

The referee looked long and hard at the incident although stopped short of opting to see a replay. Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal admitted after the game that players are as confused as ever over what now constitutes hand-ball in the area,

Eibar could still have levelled late-on when Pedro Bigas was put through only to be denied by a last-gasp saving tackle from Sergio Ramos. It was classic Ramos – the possible handball the horrible ball across his own area to an opponent, but then the tackle that sealed the points.

Madrid celebrated by going down the other end to score the third. Lucas played a long one-two with Benzema before slotting the ball cooly past Dimitrovic.

Madrid joined Atletico on top of the table with the three points, albeit second on goal difference. Their improvement continues and so does the lack of consistency over what is and what is not handball in the penalty area.