Real Madrid got their Liga campaign back on track with a 2-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano , thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo at Vallecas.
They may have been delayed nearly 24 hours after floodlight cables were sabotaged on Sunday night, but the game was worth the wait for Madrid, with Benzema's 13th minute strike and a Ronaldo penalty late on sealing the win.
Michael Essien and Luka Modric got the nod ahead of German midfield duo Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, and that selection was justified as Madrid made the perfect start.
A sweeping move saw Angel Di Maria cross for Benzema and the Frenchman clinically dispatched his effort into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Jose Mourinho's side came into the game on the back of a three-match losing streak away from home in all competitions, having alreadylost as many games as they did in the whole of last season.
And they had to survive a scare on the half-hour mark, when Iker Casillas did well to stop Andrija Delibasic's header, before Mikel Labaka's follow-up was cleared off the line bthe chest of Xabi Alonso.
Rayo had lost their last eight matches against with Madrid, their last victory against Los Blancos arrive.
The white angels as they are called picked themselves up and did what they had to do...good one for Jose Mourinho and his lads.
its like ronaldo is on fire now.he is scoring in almost every game now
Benzema is always performing when you expect him too.Real madrid did not waste their money when they bought him