Real Madrid resumed their LaLiga campaign with a 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Friday evening.
Karim Benzema returned from injury and started, with Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde and Dani Ceballos recalled as Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni started on the bench.
Valladolid survived a huge scare on nine minutes after a low shot outside the area by Marco Asensio brought a diving save from Jordi Masip and parried the follow-up from Ceballos too.
A clearer opening came for Los Blancos a few minutes later as Vinicius Junior found a loose ball in the area and brought a save from Masip before Benzema ballooned the rebound.
Madrid were very nearly made to pay for their earlier misses on the half-hour mark after Sergio Leon cut in from the right and fired in a from a tight angle, but Thibaut Courtois gathered.
Los Blancos upped the tempo in the second half and came close when a thumping attempt from a tight angle by Asensio deflected into the side-netting.
Two substitutions from Los Blancos ahead of the final 20 minutes had manager Carlo Ancelotti bring on Lucas Vazquez for Dani Carvajal before Rodrygo dropped in for Asensio.
Leon was equally close to make the breakthrough minutes later after he jumped high in the box following a corner and made Courtois produce a sprawling save.
Drama followed in the last ten minutes as Madrid won a penalty following a hand-ball by Javi Sanchez and Benzema tucked away whilst Leon saw red for protesting the decision to award a penalty.
The title holders made it two in the last minute of regulation time when Benzema met Eduardo Camavinga's square pass and bulged the net from point-blank range.
Madrid were close to adding a third goal ahead of full-time through amongst others Camavinga , but the Frenchman's effort was fired straight at the Valladolid goalkeeper as the encounter ended all square.
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