And following that goal, Gareth Bale is given a breather. Much needed, according to the Madrid medical staff. If the Welshman has "fitness concerns", hence missing out on Wales' two upcoming friendlies, then I'd hate to be a La Liga defender playing against him fully fit. Superb 70 minutes of work.

It might not be one of Gareth Bale's most spectacular goals, but it is one of the most significant in terms of personal milestones. 

The Welshman becomes the top British scorer in La Liga history with his 43rd goal, surpassing former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker (42).

Is that Real Madrid home and dry? Or can Sevilla do a Villarreal?

In fact Gameiro was never offside. Ever. Wrong call.

Just the one goal so far. But two missed penalties and two wrongly disallowed goals....

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Un. Be. Liev. Able. Kevin Gameiro springs the Madrid offside trap to slot in a Sevilla equaliser. But wait! The liner has his flag up. Tight...

More drama here than a month's worth of Eastenders episodes. Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos shoots inches wide, before Gareth Bale leaps above the Sevilla defence like a salmon. The crossbar comes to Sevilla's rescue!

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Jose Antonio Reyes is off the hook. This time Sergio Rico doesn't deny Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo only has himself to blame. The Real Madrid superstar balloons his 12-yard kick over. About 12 yards over.

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Terrible. Jose Antonio Reyes clips the feet of Luka Modric on the left edge of the Sevilla box. No need! The Croatian was running towards the byeline. Definite penalty...

Death stare from Cristiano Ronaldo. And team-mate Danilo is the man who is feeling the eyes of his illustrious team-mate burning into the back of his head. The Madrid right-back sets off after a brilliant back-heeled Karim Benzema pass....two-on-two in the Sevilla half. But the Brazilian dallies and can't pick out Ronaldo, who busts a gut to join him.

Warning sign for Real Madrid. Sevilla aren't rolling over and having their belly ticked like a playful cat. Midfielder Vicente Iborra ghosts into the Madrid box, stretching out his size nine to turn in the equaliser. But he misses it! Big let-off for Madrid...

That set-piece is headed out by the away defence, but the ball comes crashing back moments later. Karim Benzema can't repeat his first-half trick as he smashes another first-time effort goalwards. This time it bothers the fella sat on the front row of the Fondo Sur, not Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico.

Gareth Bale still looking as fit as the proverbial fiddle. The Madrid man carries the ball towards the right edge of the Sevilla box, laying off to the supporting Danilo. His cross bashes a dark blue shirt and goes out for a corner...

Here's a ghost from the English Premier League past....Jose Antonio Reyes. The Arsenal flop (couldn't do it once the clocks went back, according to my Gunners-supporting mate) comes on at the break for Sevilla.

The visitors get the ball rolling again...

No fireworks yet at the Parc des Prince with no goals in the opening half hour.

Paris St-Germain have had their chances but Monaco have plenty to play for in pursuit of Champions League football and are putting up a fight.

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Despite the Sevilla keeper's stubborn streak, Madrid are ahead. And, as it stands (three very important words there), they are closing in on second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona, however, are still a speckle on the horizon....

Cristiano Ronaldo might well love playing Sevilla more than a sweet-toothed kid loves chocolate, but it hasn't happened for The World's Second Best Player. Yet.

Madrid have peppered the Sevilla goal with 14 shots, only for the one-man wall that is Sergio Rico to block nine of them.

Image source, AP