<h3 style="text-align: justify">A solitary goal from Karim Benzema spared Real Madrid's blushes as the Spanish giants moved to the top of La Liga with a nervy 1-0 win over Granada on Saturday.</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Atletico Madrid remain just a point behind their city rivals as Fernando Torres came off the bench to inspire Diego Simeone's men to a 2-0 win at Eibar.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Real had scored 15 times in their previous three matches, but they were grateful to some poor Granada finishing and controversial calls by the officials to claim all three points.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Benzema grabbed the only goal of the game nine minutes into the second-half with a cushioned header from Isco's fine cross.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Victory moves Madrid a point ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table with the Catalans not in action until Sunday when they host Levante.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We knew before the game it could be a difficult game, against a good team that counter-attacks well, and that was how it was," said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We lost possession that allowed them to counter-attack and we didn't take our chances which complicated the game.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I know we have to win and play well, but when the game doesn't go as you wish, to win and get the three points is very important."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The scene appeared to be set at a sunny Bernabeu for Cristiano Ronaldo to surpass Raul to become Madrid's all-time top goalscorer.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">There was even a special introduction for the World Player of the Year as his mascot for the day was Zaid Mohsen, the seven-year-old Syrian refugee made famous when he and his father were tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, the script wasn't followed once the action got underway as Granada passed up a host of chances to spring a massive surprise.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Marcelo was forced into a clearance off the Real goal-line early on before Isaac Success fluffed his first of a number of opportunities when he failed to hit the target when unmarked at the back post.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Ronaldo's first opening came 18 minutes in, but Andres Fernandez stood up well to block his effort before Benzema failed to turn the rebound home.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Youssef El-Arabi did have the ball in the net for Granada moments later, but was wrongly ruled to have been offside.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Fernandez made further good saves from Luka Modric, Ronaldo and Lucas Vazquez to keep Benitez's men at bay.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Yet, Success had two more great chances to put Granada in front just before and after the break as he was denied by a brave save from Keylor Navas before chipping the ball well over with his second effort.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The Andalusians were eventually made to pay for their profligacy when Isco's perfect cross picked out Benzema for a simple header to open the scoring.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">El-Arabi should still have given Granada a share of the points, but he too couldn't find a way past Navas at the end of a fine individual run as the Costa Rica international stretched his unbeaten streak to five games.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Atletico boss Diego Simeone made just one change from the side that won 2-0 at Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek, but it wasn't until he introduced Torres after the break that the visitors took control against the Basque minnows.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Correa had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds before Torres fed him to fire home his first goal for the club.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The roles were then reversed 12 minutes from time when the Argentine's fine through ball was clipped into the far corner by Torres.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Valencia's stuttering start to the season continued as they were held 0-0 at home to Real Betis.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is under increasing pressure as his Real Sociedad side are yet to win this season after a 3-2 defeat at home by Espanyol.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p>