Real Madrid moves within a point of Atletico in La Liga

Posted March 31, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale prepares to shoot on goal during a Spanish La liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Las Palmas at the Gran Canaria stadium on the Canary island of Las Palmas, Spain, Saturday March 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Lucas de Leon) The Associated Press

LAS PALMAS, Spain (AP) - Real Madrid overcame the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo to defeat Las Palmas 3-0 and move within a point of second-place Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league on Saturday.

With Ronaldo rested for Tuesday's visit to Juventus in the Champions League quarterfinals, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema took over to give the defending league champions a comfortable win in the Canary Islands.

Bale opened the scoring in the 26th minute after a long throughball by Luka Modric, making a run from near the midfield line before entering the area and finding the top corner with a powerful left-footed shot.

Benzema added to the lead by converting a 39th-minute penalty kick after Lucas Vazquez was fouled inside the area, and Bale netted his second goal by converting another penalty kick early in the second half after he was brought down inside the box.

In addition to Ronaldo, coach Zinedine Zidane also rested defender Sergio Ramos, midfielder Francisco "Isco" Alarcon, left back Marcelo, and midfielder Toni Kroos.

Defender Nacho Fernandez had to be replaced in the first half because of an apparent muscle injury in his right leg.

Madrid is out of contention for the Spanish league title but Ronaldo remains in the race for top scorer with 22, three less than Lionel Messi.

Las Palmas stayed in 18th place, seven points behind Levante, the first team outside the relegation zone.

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More AP Spanish soccer coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/LaLiga

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with teammate Luka Modric, center right and others during a Spanish La liga soccer match at the Gran Canaria stadium on the Canary island of Las Palmas, Spain, Saturday March 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Lucas de Leon) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's Marco Asensio, right, duels for the ball with Las Palmas' Javi Castellano, during a Spanish La liga soccer match at the Gran Canaria stadium on the Canary island of Las Palmas, Spain, Saturday March 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Lucas de Leon) The Associated Press

Las Palmas' Alejandro Galvez, top, jumps above Real Madrid's Nacho, center, and Casemiro during a Spanish La liga soccer match between Las Palmas and Real Madrid at the Gran Canaria stadium on the Canary island of Las Palmas, Spain, Saturday March 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Lucas de Leon) The Associated Press

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