Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero as Elche welcome Real Madrid. Both sides are in need of the points, but for very different reasons. However, the omens are not too good for Elche, who have lost each of their last seven league games against Real Madrid – conceding almost 3.5 goals per match.

Elche's recent record against Real Madrid might be poor, but they will enter this match full of confidence following back-to-back league wins. They were in the bottom three after losing at Granada on January 31, but have since risen into 17th position. They are just four points clear of the relegation zone, however, and therefore the pressure is still very much on at this stage of the campaign.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a strong 2-0 win at Schalke 04 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash. They also beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 in the league last weekend to recover from the 4-0 loss at Atletico Madrid on February 7. Los Blancos would certainly have expected to enter this match in second position, but Barcelona lost at home to Malaga on Saturday afternoon to leave Carlo Ancelotti's side one point clear at the summit with a game in hand.

TEAMS

ELCHE: Tyton; Damian, Roco, Lomban, Albacar; Aaron, Pasalic, Adrian, Victor; Rajr; Jonathas

REAL: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Silva, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Today #Ancelotti joins the 100 club...in 99 games w/ #RealMadrid: 77 wins, 270 goals, 241 points and 4 titles. #Rockstar — Semra Hunter (@SemraHunter) February 22, 2015

Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Real go four points clear at the summit? We shall soon find out. The away side get the first half of action underway.

It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium. Close to 36,000 have turned out for this one and Elche will be looking for a fast start against Los Blancos that is for certain.

Bale makes his presence known in the early moments as he jumps into the back of Albacar, but the referee blows for a free kick. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this type of match. It is all quite lively in the middle of the park at the moment.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Bale has the ball in the back of the net for the away side, but the Welshman was just leaning offside when he collected a through ball. Good positive start from Bale here.

POST! Real Madrid rattle the post inside four minutes as Benzema sets up Ronaldo inside the box. The Portuguese curls one towards goal, but it clips the outside of the woodwork! Unlucky!

Benzema just had his shirt ripped off his back by Suarez, but the referee was not interested in the Frenchman's calls for a penalty. Replays have shown that was very dangerous! Elche have conceded seven penalties this season and that was very rash from the Spaniard. Good opening to this match.

Real Madrid have started this match like a house on fire, with Benzema causing Suarez problems in a wide area. The home side have not really been out of their half in the opening eight minutes here.

The home supporters are doing their best to raise the atmosphere, but Real Madrid are dominating matters on the field. Bale has been bright down the right and the Welshman embarks on another run, but Lomban is across to make a fine challenge. Elche are really under some serious pressure!

Excellent goalkeeping from Tyton as the Elche stopper comes out to deny Bale from close range. The Welshman was offside, but it was still super play from the stopper, who has been good this season.

Ronaldo tries his luck from outside the box, but Tyton is on hand to make another smart save. Might have been one for the cameras, but it still needed saving there is absolutely no doubt about that.

It is very feisty at the moment as Bale and Ronaldo both get chopped down within a matter of moments, but the latter challenge is not punished. Elche have started to enjoy some possession in wide areas, but the delivery has been short of the required standard thus far. Still goalless after 16 minutes here.

Half-chance for Ronaldo as the attacker meets a sweeping ball from Marcelo, but his volley was always flashing across the face of the goal rather than threatening Tyton. Ronaldo is again involved moments later as Benzema attempts to find the Portuguese with a low cross, but Suarez clears his lines.

Ronaldo versus the referee - round two. Referee wins again. The Portuguese has been taken out twice, but the Spanish official has not been interested on either occasion. This one is boiling up here!

CHANCE! Incredible chance for Ronaldo as a low Bale cross finds the attacker at the far post, but somehow he diverts his effort away from goal. Another let-off for the hosts.

There is not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment, with Real Madrid in control of the possession for long spells. Elche have the chance to break with Suarez, but the Spaniard cannot pick out Jonathas in the middle. Still goalless with 22 minutes played - so far, so good for the hosts.

Marcelo has the chance to deliver a cross after excellent work from Isco, but the Brazilian over-cooks it. Eibar make use of the space down the other end, but Suarez's cross is deflected into the arms of Casillas, who is making his 500th league appearance for Los Blancos tonight - incredible career.

BOOKING! Albacar (Elche) is booked for a poor challenge on Bale.

CHANCE! Excellent chance for Real Madrid as Ronaldo hangs in the air before meeting a free kick from Kroos, but his header just drops wide of the far corner. Serious air-time there!

Jonathas swings an arm into the face of Kroos, which brings another bright Elche attack to a close. Real Madrid are down the other end with Carvajal moments later, but Lomban is across to clear.

Half-chance for Isco following another quick counter, but the Spaniard curls one straight into the arms of Tyton after being found by Ronaldo. Moments before, Elche had wasted a free kick down the other end. Jonathas and Varane then tangle, but the referee is quickly on hand to calm proceedings.

Varane stays down following that challenge with Jonathas, but it does appear that he will be fit to continue. Bale and Ronaldo, meanwhile, were just involved in a fairly deep conversation.

Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and it is a case of so far, so good for Elche, who have frustrated Real Madrid for long spells. The away side started very brightly, but have faded somewhat in the last five or 10 minutes. Can Elche make it to the interval at 0-0 here?

There is no real tempo to the match at the moment, which will be the most disappointing part of the performance for Carlo Ancelotti. Elche have also started to utilise possession in the final third, with Jonathas putting himself about. The next 10 minutes could be just vital in terms of the result.

Another Real Madrid attack breaks down as Bale fails to move past Albacar, who is on a booking and will have to watch his step. There is very little atmosphere inside the stadium truth be told.

BOOKING! Marcelo (Real Madrid) is booked for handball.

I still fully expect Real Madrid to win this match, but they have been disappointing in the first period there is no question about that. You just get the feeling that Elche need to score the first goal if they are to take something from the league leaders. Little over five minutes of the first period remaining.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Benzema has the ball in the back of the net with a stunning bicycle kick, but the offside flag is raised. Replays have shown that Suarez might have just been playing the Frenchman onside when he made the run. That is very, very harsh. Deserved to stand - what a finish.

BOOKING! Jonathas (Elche) is booked for swinging a high arm.

Can Elche survive in the final stages of this first period? A goal at this stage would change everything. The home side are camped outside their own box at the moment as Los Blancos dominate.

Pasalic has a shooting chance for the home side, but the on-loan Chelsea midfielder fires wide following a good counter from Elche. Poor decision-making there it must be said!

Super defending from Lomban as the Elche defender beats Benzema to a deep Bale cross.

Just the one additional minute to be played in this half.

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two sides level at 0-0. Real Madrid have dominated the match in terms of chances and had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for offside, but Elche are holding the league leaders as it stands. What will the second period bring?

STATS! Real Madrid have shaded the possession with 59%, while they have had five attempts - two of which have been on target. Elche, meanwhile, have had two attempts, but failed to test Casillas thus far. There have also been three bookings following a number of feisty challenges in Elche.

BENCH WATCH! Elche boss Segura has named a fairly attack-minded bench this evening, with the likes of Herrera, Coro and Rodrigues all in reserve for the hosts. Real Madrid, however, have limited options on the sidelines due to a host of injuries. Javier Hernandez and Jese Rodriguez are both available, but it would be a surprise to see Carlo Ancelotti make a change early in the second half.

Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Real Madrid up their level? We shall soon find out. It is the home side that get the second 45 minutes underway.

No changes from either manager at the break, which is not much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains level for the next 20 minutes or so.

CHANCE! Elche's best chance of the match falls to Victor as the Spaniard finds a pocket of space inside the box, but his low effort is pushed wide by Casillas. Super goalkeeping there.

Well, some harsh words were probably exchanged in the Real Madrid dressing room at the break, but their level has not really raised in the opening minutes of the second period. This would be a big chance missed for the capital outfit if they failed to win, but there is still a lot of football to be played here.

There is no real urgency from the away side at the moment, which is not too much if a surprise at this stage, but there will become a time when Real Madrid need to force the issue here.

BOOKING! Aaron (Elche) is booked for an absolute horror challenge on Bale.

That could quite easily have been a red card - it was a real horror. Kroos with the resulting free kick...

... Kroos floats one towards the far post, but a white shirt is first to react.

CLOSE! Isco picks up the pieces outside the box before attempting to wrong-foot the Elche goalkeeper, which he manages, but his effort just drops the wrong side of the post. Unlucky!

Benzema's goal correctly disallowed....but very, very tight call pic.twitter.com/EhkB3gpOUx — Inside La Liga (@InsideLaLiga) February 22, 2015

See below for just how close that Benzema call was in the first period!

First blood to Real Madrid! The visitors take the lead just before the hour as Benzema turns home from close range following a terrible mix-up inside the Elche box. Lomban attempted to clear Ronaldo's low cross, but the ball hit his own goalkeeper before falling to Benzema, who just could not miss!

Well, you would have to fancy Real Madrid to claim all the points from this position and they will not stop at the one goal. The visitors are in total control at the moment as they search for a second.

Still plenty of football to be played this evening, but Elche are not offering too much in the final third. Ronaldo will be keen to get among the goals for Real Madrid having not scored in his last three in the league. I have a feeling that we have not seen the last of the goal-action in this one tonight.

Ronaldo tries his luck for the away side after turning outside the box, but his effort was always comfortable for the Elche goalkeeper, who collects at the second time of asking.

SUB! Elche make their first change as Rodrigues replaces Aaron.

Real Madrid want a penalty as Pasalic appears to handle inside the box, but the referee is not interested. I have seen them given there is no doubt about that! Moments later, Bale strikes one from outside the box, but his effort was always curling wide. Little over 25 minutes of football remaining in Elche.

Rodrigues has certainly brought something different to the Elche attack, but the speedy forward loses possession in a wide area and Real Madrid take control of the ball once more. Still 1-0 to the visitors.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the away side to score a second as Bale delivers a powerful cross into Ronaldo, but the attacker fires over from close range. Still no goal for the Portuguese!

It just had to be him didn't it?! Ronaldo finally gets his name on the scoresheet with a thumping header from an Isco cross. Stunning finish from the Portuguese, who really deserves his goal tonight.

To think - some have been criticising Ronaldo in recent weeks. Incredible.

BOOKING! Roco (Elche) is booked for shouldering Ronaldo off the ball just outside the box. Excellent chance for the away side to score a third here. Bale or Ronaldo?

CLOSE! Ronaldo's low free kick just, and I mean just, flashes wide!

SUB! Elche make their second change as Pasalic is replaced by Galvez.

Real Madrid are not finished this evening as they continue to force the issue in the final third. Bale will be keen to get himself on the scoresheet in the final 15 minutes or so that is for certain.

Half-chance for Kroos as the German meets a loose ball outside the box, but his effort was always moving high and wide of the crossbar. Just the one Real Madrid goal for Kroos thus far this season.

SUB! Elche make their third change as Herrera replaces Adrian.

Rodrigues injects some life into the Elche attack as he drives into the heart of the Real Madrid defence, but the midfielder is then penalised for handball after Pepe makes a challenge. Little over five minutes of football remaining and in truth, Real Madrid are very, very comfortable in all areas here.

SUB! Real Madrid make their first change as Illarramendi replaces Silva.

Half-chance for the home side as Galvez finds space in a wide area, but his cross is fairly comfortable for Casillas, who, moments later, takes too long to clear a back-pass and is almost caught out!

Isco has been the best player on the park this evening - it has been a super performance from the Spaniard. Elche continue to force the issue as Rodrigues delivers a deep cross towards the far post, but Kroos is on hand to make the clearance. Little over two minutes of normal time remaining here.

SUB! Isco leaves the field to a standing ovation, with Arbeloa his replacement.

Three additional minutes will be played this evening. Another half-chance for the away side as Ronaldo searches out Bale with a deep cross, but the Welshman cannot make contact inside the box.

Elche have played their part this evening and are finishing this match well, but Real Madrid have just been too good on the night. Little over 30 seconds of football remaining.

SUB! Third Real Madrid change as Jese replaces Benzema.

So there we have it. Real Madrid move four points clear at the summit with a comfortable 2-0 win over Elche, who remain just outside the drop zone. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action!