Sergio Ramos scores two goals to help Real Madrid end winless run

Two goals from Sergio Ramos saw Real Madrid get back to winning ways with a nervy 2-1 victory at home to Malaga.

The LaLiga leaders were without a win in three games in all competitions after seeing their long unbeaten run come to an end against Sevilla last week.

Ramos, who scored twice from Toni Kroos set-pieces, ensured his best season in front of goal and reopened a four-point lead at the top of the table as Real recovered from a nervy start.

However, they were handed a scare in the second half as Juan Pablo Anor halved the deficit from close range, but they held on to claim the three points.

There was an edgy atmosphere around the Bernabeu in the early moments as Karim Benzema wasted two clear chances to settle any early nerves.

The visitors were pressing high up the pitch and forcing the Madrid defence into a few errors, but were unable to capitalise.

Benzema, who looked to be short of full fitness, had the first real chance to break the deadlock after Lucaz Vazquez found him in the area, only for the France striker to head directly into the ground before seeing the ball bounce over the bar.

He had another opportunity minutes later, but failed to make a proper connection with a Vazquez cross as the ball drifted past the post.

A dissenting crowd began to make themselves heard after 19 minutes when Gonzalo Castro saw his effort blocked at the near post by Keylor Navas, prompting boos from spectators.

The two sides continued to trade blows before Ramos finally opened the scoring, escaping his marker before hammering a trademark header past Idriss Kameni from Kroos' corner.

He doubled the lead two minutes before half-time as a wicked free-kick from Kroos drifted over the heads of the Malaga defence before Ramos met it on the stretch, prodding the ball past a wrong-footed Kameni.

Malaga failed to come out after the break with the same intensity and the game seemed to be heading to an inevitable Real Madrid win.

The dangerous Castro continued to provide a threat however, and it was more fine work from the former German international that led to the away side pulling a goal back.

The midfielder danced past two men down the left before shooting at Navas, who could only parry the ball into the path of Anor, who finished clinically into the roof of the net from just inside the area.

Kameni almost ruined the good work with a misjudged clearance in the 73rd minute, but he recovered in time to clear Cristiano Ronaldo's lob off the line and maintain the one-goal deficit.

Ronaldo had two further chances to get on the scoresheet, hitting the post with a half-volley before heading wide late on, but was unable to add to his personal tally as Real closed out the game.