Real Madrid's 20th win in a row as it happened

1. Casillas saves Almeria penalty at 2-1
2. Real's 20th win in a row
3. Now lead La Liga by five points
4. World record is Coritiba's 24 consecutive wins

Thanks for joining us for Real Madrid's 20th consecutive win - five off breaking the world record.

Join us for Premier League action tomorrow and David Moyes's first Basque derby on Sunday.

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Cristiano Ronaldo, a modern-day Dixie Dean has now scored 32 goals in 23 games this season. He's notched 25 in 14 in the league (he's missed one game)! If he keeps up his rate he will score 66 league goals!

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Robin M: That's what the best do. Play bad but still score.

That really is incredible, for 80 minutes it was quite tense. And in the end Real Madrid could have scored six.

So what does that do for the table?

Real Madrid are now five points clear of Barcelona (who are in action tomorrow), while Almeria drop into the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to Real's late show.

FULL-TIME

Almeria have totally collapsed, Gareth Bale puts the ball in the net but he's offside.

Marcelo forces another Ruben save and Fabio Coentrao is unable to get the ball out of his feet to score the rebound.

This is all very flattering for the visitors.

Gareth Bale almost makes it five! He fires a shot straight at Ruben and his effort from the rebound is just wide.

GOAL

Unbelievable. Twelve minutes ago I suggested it was his worst performance of the season. Well he's just scored his second. Dani Carvajal goes on a great jinking run and squares the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo who smashes the ball past Ruben at his near post from 14 yards out.

SUBSTITUTION

Real Madrid shoring up at the back now, as defender Fabio Coentrao comes on for striker Karim Benzema.

That's goal number 31 for Cristiano Ronaldo in 23 Real Madrid games this season. Remarkable.

Real now up to 74 goals in their last 20 games (all wins unless they blow this).

GOAL

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It wouldn't feel like a Real Madrid win without a Cristiano Ronaldo goal. Even after a poor performance he still finds the net. The Portugal international is outside the box and plays a ball out wide to Karim Benzema, who squares the ball back for Ronaldo to slot into an empty net.

TEN MINUTES TO GO

If we're being honest, did any of us think this game would still be in the balance with 10 minutes left?

YELLOW CARD

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Cristiano Ronaldo is booked for a knee in the back of Ximo Navarro. Maybe the worst performance of the season for the Portuguese.

(Cue him probably scoring a hat-trick now)

Karim Benzema makes a proper hash of that attack, the ball bobbles off his shin as he runs through on goal and his marker comes across to receive the ball.

If that had been either Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale, that's a race they would have won.

Cristiano Ronaldo goes for a volley but he totally gets it wrong. It looks like it's going out for a throw-in but it doesn't even go that far - maybe the worst shot of his career. Will this be a very rare night off the scoresheet for him?

SUBSTITUTION

Wellington Silva - who is on loan from Arsenal - comes on for Fernando Soriano for Almeria.

He's been at the Gunners since 2011 apparently - Almeria are his fifth Spanish loan club from the London side.

And straight away the Brazilian whips in a good cross but his team-mate can't turn it home.

Real Madrid go straight on the attack after that huge let-off and Isco fires off target from distance. It was a similar strike to his goal but without any curl.

PENALTY SAVED

Verza goes to Iker Casillas's left and the Spain keeper guesses right! What a wasted chance for Almeria.

PENALTY TO ALMERIA

Edgar Mendez speeds into the box and Marcelo brings him down, he might have got a slight touch on the ball but he's definitely brought the Almeria player down. Drama.

PENALTY APPEAL

Cristiano Ronaldo is furious, he thinks he should have a penalty as he is pulled by Fran Velez - hard to know either way whether he had a point. Inconclusive replay.

It's an open game now as Almeria start to push for a second equaliser. Fernando Soriano slices a shot, which doesn't even go out of play.

Real Madrid counter and Cristiano Ronaldo forces a good save from Ruben with a drive.

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It's nearly 3-1 - it should be. Gareth Bale uses his pace to fly away from the Almeria defence and I'm not sure if it's a shot for the far corner or a pass for Cristiano Ronaldo to slide in at the post but either way it's past Ronaldo and the post. Goal-kick.

Opta statistician Duncan Alexander on Twitter: ‏"Gareth Bale - 22 goals in 39 La Liga apps.

"Angel Di Maria - 22 goals in 124 La Liga apps."

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James, Oxford: Ronaldo has shone regardless of the team around him. He is up with Pele and Maradona - but their national teams were far better than Portugal.

Bertie in London: So sick of the argument that you need to play well at a World Cup to be considered a great. Maradona and Pele weren't born in Portugal.

Phill, Wirral: By that rationale George Best was a Sunday league player!

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Jerry Worley: It's all about opposition. My cub team had a winning run of three years on the trot - about 60 games. So they've got a long way to go.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins a corner as his shot from out wide is deflected out of play.

Even if he scored one goal tonight, that would take his average for the season down.

As things stand he has none. Can he remedy that in the next 40 minutes or so?

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Neil Murfin: How would Real & co cope against the mighty Hull, Burnley, Stoke, QPR, Leicester, Palace, WBA, Sunderland etc

KICK-OFF

Real Madrid get the second half going.

Under-pressure managers

Empics

Sami Hyypia, whose managerial career seems to be nosediving after a decent start with Bayer Leverkusen, could be under even more pressure tonight as his Brighton side trail 1-0 to Championship relegation rivals Millwall.

Another manager with future uncertain is Ally McCoist, who resigned at Rangers, who can't afford to pay him off. His side (with him still in charge) are losing 1-0 to Queen of the South in the Scottish second tier.

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Joe in Rotherham: Re Tim Meager, the top teams such as Bayern, who they ripped to shreds in the Champions League semi-finals last season? Or Barca that they have played and won 3-1?

Story of the first half

BBC

Real Madrid only had two shots on target...

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Matthew Turner: Real Madrid have such talent that the world record of 24 straight wins could and should be beaten.

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Kevin in Hornchurch: Ronaldo just cannot be compared to Pele and Diego Maradona, mainly because they delivered on the greatest stage at World Cups and Ronaldo didn't or hasn't yet. Until that time not comparable.

So basically you're saying Cristiano Ronaldo is no Oleg Salenko?

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Tim Meager: Can't wait for them to actually face a proper competition, played Atletico Madrid and lost. All they have played against are Celta Vigo etc. Can't wait to see them play Chelsea, Bayern and other top quality sides!

Andy Ryan: Two and a half team league - more predictable than the Scottish Premiership, just pays more.

How can a league with three teams (at least) challenging for the title be more predictable than the Scottish top-flight minus Rangers?

HALF-TIME

Almeria caretaker Miguel Rivera will be heartened but frustrated by what he's seen so far.

Real Madrid halfway to win number 20.

GOAL

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Toni Kroos crosses the ball in for Gareth Bale, who is in absolutely loads of space, to head home past Ruben.

Real Madrid go straight on the hunt for another goal and win a corner almost immediately...

GOAL

Real Madrid are shellshocked, this is a stunning goal. Real Madrid only half-clear a cross to Verza, who smashes the ball in on a half-volley from 25 yards. It flies past Iker Casillas into the net. Amazing.

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Rian Hoskins: Asier Illaramendi needs to perform in LUka Modric's absence. Cost a lot and was talked about as the next Xabi Alonso. Hasn't delivered.

GOAL

AFP

A fantastic goal. Isco - only playing because James Rodriguez is injured - controls the ball on his chest on the edge of the area, sends defender Michel Macedo one way and then the other with quick feet, and curls a wonderful effort past goalkeeper Ruben.

YELLOW CARD

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Sebastian Dubarbier is booked for hacking Pepe down from behind. The Portugal international looks in agony, but then again he always does.

Oh and there you go - he's fine now.

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Harvey in Munich: "La liga is no Premier League" Spanish teams have won three of the last six Champions Leagues and six of the last 11 Europa leagues... awkward.

Marcelo goes on a jinking run into the box but is tackled at the last moment. Almeria go on a break but Real Madrid intercept and start another attack which results in a corner.

The corner comes to nothing.

YELLOW CARD

Gareth Bale has been booked for fouling Fran Velez. He is the second player tonight in the book, with Almeria's Verza having been shown a yellow card earlier.

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Mudassir Arafat: Even though he is good, Cristiano Ronaldo is nowhere near Lionel Messi during his 90+ calendar goals.. the standard!!

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Rob, Newbury: Re. John. And how many penalties came from fouls on Ronaldo? And which of them has missed a penalty in La Liga?

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World record signing Gareth Bale gets in behind the back of the Almeria defender but his ball across the goal is too far for Karim Benzema to prod home. A wasted chance for Real Madrid and the French striker doesn't look happy.

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James in London: Someone needs to tell John (10 mins) penalties are still goals! Last 24 months, Messi isn't even close to Ronaldo's level.

Abid Iqbal Patel: I can't understand the penalty argument. Is he expected to miss... It's part of the game.

Ha ha. The ball is played over the shoulder of Almeria's Sebastian Dubarbier and the defender decides to hit it first time on the volley, Marco van Basten-style. It doesn't go well - goal-kick.

HITS THE WOODWORK

Real Madrid almost take the lead, Toni Kroos hits a fantastic volley from 20 yards as a corner is cleared and it's deflected off the crossbar by Fran Velez's head. Cristiano Ronaldo - who is flagged offside anyway - acrobatically volleys the rebound off target.

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Freddy Harper-Davis: It will 100% be 2-1 to Almeria, Real Madrid have been so lucky in a lot of matches, and are a one-man team.

Amazing.

Real Madrid have the ball for a minute or so now but it all comes to nothing as Almeria break it up.

The visitors are starting to get more of a hold on the game as Toni Kroos - who of course was a cheaper summer signing than Adam Lallana - is caught offside.

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John, Manchester: Ronaldo has scored 23 goals in La Liga including seven penalties and five goals in Champions League including two penalties. Messi has scored 13 plus eight but no penalties, ie 21 v 19 in Messi's favour from open play. Penaldo.

An impressive start from Almeria, who come forward again. Thomas Partey has an ambitious shot from distance which flies over. Slightly worrying times for the hosts.

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Dave Jefferson: 5-0 to the home side?! You probably will have to delete that!

You know what I meant!

Almeria almost take the lead! Fernando Soriano's shot is blocked and it lands to Sebastian Dubarbier, whose shot from six yards out is deflected wide by Dani Carvajal.

The corner comes to nothing and Real Madrid escape.

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Abiodun Ayemoba: Stephen, trust me, Chelsea would not want to play Madrid now. I agree La liga isn't the Premier League but they are more technical.

KICK-OFF

Real Madrid get us going.

Predictions? I'm going to say 5-0 (and then delete this later if it's not).

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Stephen Robertson: The match everyone wants has to be Real v Chelsea. Real have only played one good team in the last 19 games, La Liga is no Premier League.

Joseph Larson: Madrid won't lose tonight

EPA

This is Real Madrid's last league match of 2014, because they are heading off to Morocco for the Club World Cup.

They face Cruz Azul or Western Sydney Wanderers (pictured) in Tuesday's semi-final and then (probably) play in the final next Saturday.

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On Facebook, we asked if Real Madrid will make it 20 wins in a row.

Elias Duarte-Lopez: Of Course! The Best Team in the world! Hala Madrid!

Genti Ballazhi: Sure 100%

Shirley Doris Day Sparks: Easy easy easy, 2015 champs

BBC

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Cristiano Ronaldo has had a hand in two goals for every game he's played for Real Madrid this season (30 goals and 14 set-ups in 22 games).

And fellow club legend Raul thinks the Portuguese can become the greatest player of all time.

"I think now he is at the top, and if continues the same way, he could be the best of all time," Raul, now at New York Cosmos, told the BBC World Football show.

"I think Cristiano and Lionel Messi are two of the best players in the history of the game. Are they better than Pele or Diego Maradona?

"They are at the top, but I think it is difficult in football to say who is first or second or third. But if Cristiano continues for five years..."

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Tim in Poole, Dorset: Yes, Real Madrid are the best team in Europe right now, despite losing Luka Modric and James Rodriguez. Carlo Ancelotti is a brilliant manager and has formed a team from brilliant individuals.

All about Almeria

AP

Almeria, from the Andalusia region of Spain, play at the snappily named Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

The club were formed in 1989 and were in the fourth tier as recently as 1999-2000.

They are currently 17th in La Liga, outside the relegation zone on goal difference, and have only picked up two points from eight games - their last league win was on 28 September.

Not a lot of household names in their squad, with Thievy Bifouma - who spent some time on loan at West Brom last season - on loan from Espanyol.

Any more questions?

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Almeria parted company with manager Francisco Javier Rodriguez, a former player with the club, on Tuesday.

B team coach Miguel Rivera, a man who doesn't even have an English language Wikipedia page, is in caretaker charge.

Juan Ignacio Martinez takes over tomorrow.

Real Madrid's run of 19 successive wins is a Spanish record - their win over Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday broke Barcelona's record of 18 set in 2005-06.

The European and Spanish cup holders are within five matches of the world record of 24, set by Brazilians Coritiba in 2011.

AP

Team news

BBC

Real Madrid make two changes from the team who beat Celta Vigo 3-0 in their last league game. Raphael Varane comes in for the suspended Sergio Ramos at the back and Isco replaces the slightly injured James Rodriguez further up the pitch.

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Are Real Madrid the best team in the world at the moment? Who is going to end this winning run or will it go on until the moon crashes into the earth, wiping out all civilisation?

Let us know your thoughts on Twitter (#bbceurofooty), by texting us on 81111 (but only if you're in the UK and please let us know your name) or over on social media colossus Facebook.

Since then Basel (twice), Deportivo La Coruna, Elche, Villarreal, Ludogorets Razgrad (twice), Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Liverpool (twice), Barcelona, Cornella (twice), Granada, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Malaga and Celta Vigo have all taken on the European champions and lost.

Three months ago

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Cast your mind back to 13 September, a time before the Champions League group stages had even started, before Scotland's independence referendum, before Aston Villa assistant Roy Keane had released his book.

A time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge at Cardiff, Felix Magath was at Fulham and Leeds hadn't even appointed Darko Milanic yet.

That was the last time Real Madrid failed to win a game.