A spectacular strike from Luka Modric secured a vital 2-1 victory for Real Madrid away to Granada in La Liga on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane's side went into the match with a seven-point deficit to leaders Barcelona, and were unable to recapture the form which saw them fire six past Espanyol a week ago.
Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead after half an hour but Granada, who had a goal disallowed for offside in either half, deservedly levelled the match through substitute Youssef El-Arabi, though the visitors were frustrated at some accidental interference on Modric from referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
David Lomban saw a header ruled out for offside as the hosts, who began the match two points from safety in 19th, continued to cause real problems for a Madrid outfit who looked well short of the standards they have hit under Zidane in recent weeks.
Yet Modric turned hero for his side as he rifled in from distance with five minutes to play to move Madrid back to within four points of Barca, who earlier beat Levante 2-0 and have played one game fewer.
Granada impressed in their narrow defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this season and enjoyed a bright start, with Adalberto Penaranda denied by the offside flag after drilling home at the near post with Keylor Navas caught out of position outside the area.
Cristiano Ronaldo flashed a shot just wide of the far post after being picked out by a fine James Rodriguez pass as Madrid offered a glimpse of their threat in behind the Granada line, and they exploited it to clinical effect on 30 minutes as Benzema opened the scoring.
Dani Carvajal was picked out in acres of space to the right of the area by Isco's pass, and his cut-back was tapped home by Benzema from just six yards out.
Andres Fernandez was on hand in the 56th minute to keep Granada alive in the match, making a superb one-handed save low to his right to deny Benzema after Modric's pass had split the home defence, and they found themselves on level terms just three minutes later.
Modric lost possession in midfield after being impeded by the referee, allowing Ruben Rochina to slide the ball through to El-Arabi, who - having only been on the pitch for two minutes - slotted the ball through the legs of the onrushing Navas and in, despite the best efforts of Carvajal.
Granada thought they had taken the lead when Lomban headed into the bottom corner, though El-Arabi was flagged for offside after attempting to flick the ball home, and Isaac Success had penalty appeals waved away after being brought down by Navas, though replays showed the goalkeeper clearly played the ball first.
The home side looked set for a vital point until Modric collected Mateo Kovacic's pass and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top-left corner from 25 yards to send the visiting dugout into raptures.
Astro Arena
Sun Feb 07 2016
A spectacular strike from Luka Modric secured a vital 2-1 victory for Real Madrid away to Granada in La Liga on Sunday.
10 pekerja maut dalam letupan kilang mercun di India
Sekurang-kurangnya 10 pekerja termasuk enam daripadanya wanita terbunuh dalam letupan di kilang mercun berlesen di kampung Sengamalapatti di Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India.
Filipina gesa diplomat China diusir
Ia berhubung dakwaan kebocoran perbualan telefon dengan seorang pegawai tentera Filipina berhubung perbalahan di Laut China Selatan.
Astro Kem Badminton singgah di Johor Bahru
Dengan kerjasama Felet dan Carrie Bacbuster, peserta diuji dengan latihan intensif dengan harapan akan terpilih ke kem latihan bersama Akademi Badminton Malaysia (BAM).
61 maut akibat strok haba di Thailand
Kementerian Kesihatan hari ini memaklumkan, kematian akibat strok haba di Thailand setakat tahun ini adalah 61 kes, lebih banyak daripada angka keseluruhan direkodkan tahun lalu.
China minta Filipina henti provokasi
Reaksi itu diberi China selepas penasihat keselamatan negara Filipina menggesa pegawai kedutaan China diusir, pada Jumaat.
Serangan Rafah: Hanya sebuah hospital beroperasi
Hospital Kuwait kini menjadi satu-satunya institusi perubatan yang berfungsi di bandar dengan populasi lebih satu juta penduduk itu.
[TERKINI] PBB lulus resolusi iktiraf Palestin sebagai anggota penuh
PBB lulus resolusi mengiktiraf Palestin sebagai negara anggota penuh, dengan 143 negara mengundi menyokong,9 menentang dan 25 berkecuali.
Keputusan SPM kekal pada 27 Mei - Fadhlina
Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) mengekalkan tarikh keputusan pengumuman Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 pada 27 Mei ini, kerana yakin pelajar mempunyai masa mencukupi membuat persiapan permohonan kemasukan ke institut pengajian tinggi (IPT)
KPM perkasa sistem pendidikan sejajar titah Tunku Mahkota Ismail - Fadhlina Sidek
Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) sedang melaksanakan pelbagai inisiatif memperkasakan sistem pendidikan negara, selaras dengan titah Pemangku Sultan Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail yang mahukan langkah lebih proaktif dalam meningkatkan sistem dan kualiti sektor itu.
Kerajaan beri jaminan sedia rawatan susulan - Dr Dzulkefly
Malah KKM juga tegas beliau juga ada kaedah menyediakan bantuan diperlukan kepada penerima yang mengalami kesan sampingan daripada suntikan vaksin.
Barcelona: Xavi buat pusingan-U
Khabar angin bertiup bahawa pengurus Barcelona, Xavi, akan meneruskan peranannya pada musim depan selepas mengubah fikirannya.
Pengadil La Liga raih pendapatan hampir RM20,000 setiap perlawanan
Pengadil perlawanan di saingan bola sepak La Liga Sepanyol menghasilkan pendapatan hampir RM20,000 dalam mengadili sesebuah perlawanan.
Pemain berusia 16 tahun, wira buat Barcelona
Barcelona naik ke tangga kedua dalam La Liga selepas pemain sayap remaja mereka Lamine Yamal berjaya jaringkan gol lewat permainan.
La Liga: Xavi berang anak buah buat kesilapan mudah
Pengurus Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez, berang dengan keputusan yang sepatutnya memihak kepada pasukannya.
Barcelona hidupkan peluang cabar kejuaraan La Liga
Skuad kendalian Xavi Hernandez itu amat memerlukan kemenangan selepas pendahulu Real Madrid dan Girona mencatatkan kemenangan pada Khamis.
LaLiga: Lamine Yamal tandatangani kontrak baru dengan Barcelona
Yamal telah melakukan sembilan penampilan buat pasukan bimbingan Xavi itu musim ini.
Real Madrid kembali fantastik
Ancelotti melakukan lima pertukaran terhadap kesebelasan utama, merehatkan Jude Bellingham dan memberikan Diaz permulaan pertama musim ini.
La Liga: Almeria malukan Barca
Jaringan El Bilal Toure pada separuh masa memberikan Almeria kemenangan pertama mereka ke atas Barca.
Barca enggan selesa di puncak
Skuad bimbingan Xavi Hernandez itu meraih tiga mata berharga selepas mengatasi Sevilla 3-0, pada awal pagi Isnin.
Sevilla mujur tidak dibelasah lebih teruk - Xavi
Raphinha membuka jaringan untuk Barca sebelum Robert Lewandowski menyumbat gol kelimanya dalam tiga perlawanan LaLiga.