Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga: Ramos' offside goal wins it for Madrid

Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga: Ramos' offside goal wins it for Madrid

Real Madrid did not play well in the first half, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing one of their few clear chances, played in by Toni Kroos, with the Portuguese firing straight at Carlos Kameni.

Marcelo went off injured in the 25th minute which was a blow, but 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.