Real Madrid 1 win from title after edging Granada

Real Madrid are one win away from sealing a 34th La Liga title after withstanding a second-half push from hosts Granada in a 2-1 victory on Monday night.

Zinedine Zidane's charges have won nine straight matches since the restart, and they're now four points up on two-time reigning champion Barcelona with two matches to play.

Real will secure the title if they beat Villarreal at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Thursday.

Monday's trip to Los Carmenes was hardly a straightforward affair for Real despite an early two-goal advantage.

Full-back Ferland Mendy bulged the top netting from a tight angle in the 10th minute before Karim Benzema doubled Real's cushion six minutes later on the counterattack with a calm finish that curled past Rui Silva.

Mendy's tally makes the French international the 21st player to record a league goal for Real this season, a new record.

Darwin Machis cut that advantage in half in the 50th minute when the Venezuelan forward got behind Real's backline before firing an effort between Thibaut Courtois' legs.

Courtois made a fine save to deny Antonin, and Sergio Ramos saved Real's blushes with a late goal-line clearance on an effort from Ramon Azeez.