Betis at least show a bit of fight but German Pezzela overdoes it as he gets booked for clattering into Isco.

Gus Poyet did make a couple of changes at the break in an attempt to turn things round.

Roman Zozulya is on for Darko Brasanac and Alvaro Cejudo for Alexander Alegria.

Off we go again. 

The final half of a La Liga marathon. Can't see Real hitting the wall.

I think it's fair to say former Sunderland and Brighton manager Gus Poyet has his work cut out during the break trying to reg-group with his Betis team.

They have carried a threat going forward but Real can seemingly pick them off at will at the other end.

It could be damage limitation exercise for the home side, although Real may take their foot off the gas with a mid-week Champions League trip to Poland to come.

There again.........

Hand cramp is becoming a very real concern after a dominant first-half display by Real Madrid. Wouldn't put it past them to get a fair few more in the second half.

Isco goes in the book for a wild lunge on Riza Durmisi as he attempts to lead a counter attack.

Real Betis' Riza Durmisi gives away a cheap corner as he panics a bit under pressure from Gareth Bale. Fortunately for the fullback, the set piece is headed away.

Cristiano Piccini is given loads of space by the Real Madrid defence. He's allowed to get into the area and get a shot off but he bends the effort over.

Real Betis are not giving up on this match yet.

Oooh! Real Betis definitely have a bit about them when they attack. They switch possession quickly from one side of the pitch to the other and momentarily catch out the Real Madrid defence, allowing Ruben Castro the space he needs to pick his shot, just wide.

Marcelo powers along the edge of the box. It's a good run but the finish at the end of it doesn't match it as his shot dribbles into the keeper's hands.

Nice from Cristiano Ronaldo. He spins around his marker before letting fly from the edge of the box. Too close to the keeper.

Real Betis don't score many goals. They only have one in their last three games which is surprising as they look quite dangerous going forward. They've just not quite had that bit of luck in the final third yet.

Real won't feel comfortable until they have a second.

Cristiano Ronaldo does a dance with a defender on the left, appears to get a clip to the back of the head but nothing given.

Still, Real are well on top.

Image source, AFP

Scrap that. Replays show that Gareth Bale's header hit the post, then hit Antonio Adan's back and went out for a corner. I revise my initial view that it was a great save. The Betis shotstopper didn't know much about it at all.

Marcelo is bossing things down the left. He has so much space to send in a perfect cross to the far post where Gareth Bale gets away from his marker and dives to direct a header towards the near post. A combination of Antonio Adan's leg and the post keeps the ball out.

Oh Marcelo's clever backheel-volley deserves to be rewarded with a goal. His inventive flick keeps a ball going out for a goal kick and finds Karim Benzema in the box. The forward's first touch is heavy and then his cross is blocked.