Real Madrid were distinctly business-like in dispatching Eibar 3-0 on Sunday, thanks to an own goal and strikes from Marco Asensio -- their top scorer -- and Marcelo. The gap with Barcelona is still five points but all Zinedine Zidane's men can do is keep pace ahead of El Clasico in December.
One thing that stands out is that only five players have started more than two-thirds of Madrid's league games this season. And, of those, only Casemiro and Sergio Ramos are regulars; the others, for those keeping score at home, are Asensio, Isco and Nacho.
Injuries and rotation help explain this, but you wonder to what degree it might turn out to be a boon late in the season when Madrid's players will, presumably, go into the stretch run with less wear and tear.
Click here to read more of Marcotti's thoughts on what occurred in European football over the previous week.