Eibar had waited 74 years for the chance to host Real Madrid and while the eventual 4-0 outcome was rarely in doubt, the side with the smallest budget in La Liga -- roughly equivalent to a year's wages for Cristiano Ronaldo -- once again proved that they have sufficient mettle to expect a second season in the top flight.
Going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid was admirable, and true to the ethos that Gaizka Garitano has instilled at Eibar. But the gulf in class proved too much for the home side, who nevertheless had their chances to get on the score sheet.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, as expected, covered the absence of injured midfield dynamo Luka Modric by fielding Isco in a 4-4-2, while Ronaldo, predictably, did not disappoint in pursuit of another landmark: the Portuguese has now scored against 51 of the 52 teams he has played against in a Real Madrid shirt. Take a bow, Dinamo Zagreb.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Iker Casillas, 7 -- Casillas made a good reaction save when Saul Berjon was put through, to keep the score at 1-0. However, the captain looked as uncomfortable as ever when the ball was at his feet, almost knocking a soft back pass out for a corner, and doing just that when cutting out an Eibar through ball that looked easier to belt into the stands. But that's why he wears the gloves. And while he didn't need those much, he does have a knack with that right foot of his when the ball's goal-bound.
DF Dani Carvajal, 6.5 -- The right back got forward a lot in opening exchanges and initiated the move that led to the opening goal. A nasty mix-up with Casillas just before the half hour left his keeper in midfield, but Carvajal recovered and there was no harm done. A constant threat in the opposing half, the Spain international didn't have his best night in his own.
DF Sergio Ramos, 7.5 -- One good intervention, and one equally apparent lapse, as Eibar poured forward early on, but Ramos closed the gaps well enough and the yellow he picked up was a bit harsh. Ramos was on the front foot all match and had a few chances to add to his career total of 50 goals for Real. The defender boasts more Primera experience than Eibar's entire squad, and it showed when it mattered. However, he won't want to watch too many replays of his reaction shot to Gareth Bale's free kick.
DF Pepe, 7.5 -- Pepe's role is becoming similar to Kroos' this season: Whenever his defensive colleagues rampage upfield, the Portuguese remains as the last man and he is perfect for the job. All-action and scarcely worried about upsetting the kit-man, Pepe was everywhere he needed to be against an ambitious attack.
DF Marcelo, 7 -- Put in a timely tackle on Eneko Boveda in the first half and had the toughest job of Real's back four in keeping the lively Ander Capa in check, a fascinating duel early on and one that by halftime the Brazilian had got the better of. Marcelo read Eibar's set piece corner well to distract Boveda when he was shaping to shoot and picked Eibar's pocket in midfield to launch the move for Real's third. As ever, what Spanish commentators like to call a "4x4".
MF Toni Kroos, 8 -- Another demonstration of magisterial control from the Germany international, whose recent forward excursions were curbed by the absence of his habitual partner. Kroos offered himself up for every conceivable angle for a pass and kept things ticking over, covering when Isco and Ramos were out of position and screening what was left of the back four when Eibar hit on the break.
MF Isco Alarcon, 6.5 -- Well-positioned for a pop from a corner in the first half and almost finished a trademark counter halfway through the second but fired narrowly wide. However, the Kroos-Isco tandem will require a little more work. Isco displayed his usual impeccable close control and harried the opposition in their half, but it was interesting watching him chasing down Abraham early in the second. He has the skill for the new position, undoubtedly, but does he have the pace to cover both halves as Modric does?
MF James Rodriguez, 7 -- James opened the scoring with an opportunistic goal while the Eibar back four were busy calling for offside against Karim Benzema. As any youth team coach would say, play to the whistle. James did; Eibar didn't. And up to that point the home side were resolute. Committed a needless handball at the end of the first half to go in the book, but reacted well to keep the ball in and tee up Benzema for Real's third.
MF Gareth Bale, 6 -- Bale drew an acrobatic save from Xabi Irureta on the quarter hour from a free kick but, starved of the space he thrives in on Eibar's small pitch, he had little impact. Like James, Bale did well merely to keep the ball in when he did get to the by-line.
FW Cristiano Ronaldo, 7.5 -- The Portuguese scored the goal to kill off Eibar's challenge, and while hardly a screamer you can't argue with 20 goals from 40 shots on target in 12 league games -- even if his latest was from an unnecessarily harsh penalty decision against Raul Albentosa.
FW Karim Benzema, 7 - The France striker provided a first test for Irureta and missed an acutely angled chance early in the second half, but would probably have been called offside anyway. That is still a flaw in the Frenchman's game, but he's on form and added to his tally this season with a thumping finish, while working tirelessly for the team yet again. That, as much as his marksmanship, is why he is currently such a crowd favourite.
Substitutes:
DF Raphael Varane, NR-- On for Ramos with a little over a quarter hour to play, but had very little to do.
DF Fabio Coentrao, NR -- On for James and covered the left back slot while Marcelo moved upfield. A few minutes for another recent injury returnee.
DF Alvaro Arbeloa, NR -- On for Ronaldo. The Portuguese's job was done. The Spaniard's is now basically to give his teammates a few minutes off when games are well won.