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Karim Benzema scored the only goal as Real Madrid moved six points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga thanks to a 1-0 win against rivals Atletico Madrid.
Zidane had begun the match with a compact narrow formation containing five midfielders but after failing to break down Atletico he hauled off Toni Kroos and Isco at the start of the second half for natural wingers Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Jr.
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Brazilian teenager Vinicius helped burst open a stubborn Atletico with some patient play in midfield, taking out three defenders by releasing Mendy who needed only one touch to pick out Benzema in the area.
Atletico rarely looked like troubling a Real defence that have only conceded 13 goals in 22 league games this season, although they had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Casemiro sent Morata to the ground in the first half.
Benzema’s strike gave Real their first home victory over Atletico in the league since 2012.
Barca can reduce the margin to three if they beat Levante on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Atletico are fifth and trail their local rivals by 13 points.
And their injury problems deepened when striker Alvaro Morata limped off early in the second half with a suspected muscle problem.
The defeat piled further pressure on coach Diego Simeone, who has failed to win any of his last five games and is enduring his worst spell since taking charge of the club in December 2011.