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With this 0-1 win at La Rosaleda, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid has been unbeaten for 30 consecutive games. This is the kind of streak that gets you closer to winning titles at the end of the season, but the team certainly need to improve their performances after what was a really sloppy win.
Málaga obviously did their best in order to avoid relegation, and the referee missed an obvious penalty on Gareth Bale even before Cristiano Ronaldo scored the game-winner. But Willy Caballero's night was quiet, especially after Karim Benzema left the match with an injury. Luckily enough, the French striker only had a knock and he should be available against Barcelona.
Alonso played great defensively throughout the whole second half, but most of the team struggled and Málaga controlled the game, even though Diego López didn't have much work to do. Raphäel Varane is still looking uncomfortable and it seems that he will need to gain some confidence back after his recovery.
Again, nothing much went on. It was good to see Real Madrid getting such an important win in order to confirm that four-point lead to FC Barcelona. Messi and company will have to play for the win at the Santiago Bernabéu, and that could definitely help Ancelotti and his men. But the player will have to do a lot more if they want to win this Liga BBVA title. They were lucky to get those three points that easily thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's goal.
The away games will not get any easier as the opposition will be fighting to avoid relegation even harder -see FC Barcelona at Valladolid-. If Real Madrid play this carelessly against teams giving their best, it could cost them some points.
Now let's make some rotations against Schalke 04 and then get everything ready for El Clásico.