Struggling Real Madrid got back to winnings ways against Las Palmas with Casemiro, Marco Asensio and Isco grabbing the goals as they moved third, eight points behind leaders Barcelona.

Karim Benzema missed a huge chance in the fourth minute when played in by Cristiano Ronaldo , firing too close to Raul Lizoain when through on goal.

Ronaldo came close twice himself in the first half and Marcelo fired wide as Madrid were on top but failed to find the net until Casemiro intervened.

The Brazilian enforcer headed home at the back post in the 41st minute after a corner was flicked into his path, leaving Lizoain with no chance.

Asensio doubled the lead with a thunderbolt which zipped into the top corner in the 56th minute and will go down as one of the goals of the season, before Ronaldo teed up Isco for the third.

Here are the five key talking points from the game…
Casemiro celebrates his opener in the first half (
Image:
AFP)
Isco after getting on the end of a pinpoint Ronaldo cross (
Image:
AFP)

Madrid’s big-name strikers floundering

As Alvaro Morata continues to go from strength to strength with Chelsea in the Premier League, Madrid fans have been left with the feeling he should still be at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Karim Benzema is anywhere near their best this season and the team are paying a price for it.Madrid created various chances but they went begging as Ronaldo and Benzema fluffed their lines repeatedly.

Madrid sold the wrong forward this summer and should have tried harder to persuade Kylian Mbappe to come instead of going to PSG.Ronaldo at least set up Isco for the third goal, but his own lack of goals - just one in La Liga - is worrying.
Ronaldo spent large parts of the night frustrated (
Image:
AFP)

Asensio is an addict

Marco Asensio is addicted to scoring golazos - great goals.The Madrid wonder-kid has an unerring knack for scoring in spectacular fashion, with the Bernabeu falling in love with him at first sight.

The statistics speak for themselves somewhat; Asensio has scored 11 of his 29 goals in professional football from outside the area.

The 21-year-old’s strike against Las Palmas was one of the finest of his career, savagely lashing the ball into the top left corner from outside the area, leaving Lizoain without a prayer of reaching it.

This season alone he has scored two brilliant goals against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and also produced two top strikes against Valencia.
Marco Asensio celebrates his stunning strike from range (
Image:
REUTERS)

Casemiro appointed head boy

Astonishingly Casemiro’s header which broke the deadlock was the first goal of its ilk Madrid have scored this season.

Last term they scored a total of 40 headers but this season they have been off target.

Part of that is due to Morata leaving, with the Chelsea striker demonstrating against Manchester United his prowess in the air earlier in the day, but they are also less effective from dead balls.

Perhaps captain fantastic Sergio Ramos is saving his usually impressive attacking aerial contributions for later in the season.
Casemiro rises to guide his header into the bottom corner (
Image:
REUTERS)

Vallejo’s solid debut good news

Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo, 20, had a disappointing debut in the Copa del Rey in which he was sent off against Fuenlabrada in October.

However his La Liga bow went much better, with the former Real Zaragoza man looking comfortable alongside Sergio Ramos at the back.
Spanish defender Jesus Vallejo impressed (
Image:
AFP)

Granted, Las Palmas were disappointing, but Vallejo dealt with any danger comfortably and showed he has what it takes to break into Zinedine Zidane’s side.

If he can keep learning from Ramos, the good parts of his game at least, Vallejo may one day reach the top level.

Madrid back on track but not convincing

The important thing was to win. After consecutive defeats by Girona and Tottenham which rocked Madrid, they simply needed to win and stay within sight of leaders Barcelona.
Zidane came into the match needing his side to show a big improvement (
Image:
AFP)

That much was accomplished but Zinedine Zidane will want more from his team with their poor finishing meaning they had to wait until the second half to finish off their prey.

After all, this is a Las Palmas team that is sinking without trace. The Canary Islanders have just two wins in 11 games, with nine defeats.

Three points on the board will help Madrid restore some confidence at least, but they know moving forward they have to be far, far better than this, despite the convincing scoreline.

Playing against rivals Atletico Madrid in their next league game, Madrid will encounter far less forgiving opponents and must be significantly more accurate with their finishing.