Real Madrid ran out winners against Leganes by a score of three goals to one and finally got up to date with the rest of the league, after missing a game due to their participation in the Club World Cup.
La Liga's schedule caught up with itself with Leganes - Real Madrid. 'Los Blancos', with a slightly altered starting eleven, came back from Unai Bustinza's early effort with goals from Lucas Vazquez, Casemiro and Sergio Ramos and got their revenge for being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by the 'pepineros'.
With the victory, originally part of gameweek 16 in La Liga, Real Madrid confirmed their previously hypothetical third place. Real have 48 points, seven behind Atletico in second and 14 behind Barcelona.
In addition, they now sit two points above Valencia, in fourth, and have put some breathing space between themselves and the Europa League spaces. Sevilla are nine points behind and Villareal ten.
Leganes, for their part, remain mid table in no man's land in 13th place. They still have quite a gap between them and the drop zone.