Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso was pleased with their victory over Villarreal.

Alonso was pleased with how Madrid controlled the game while also keeping something back for the weekend trip to Real Sociedad.

"It's obvious our intention is to have a strong start to the game," he said. "Things are always easier when we score first.

"We gave a great performance in the first half and strained ourselves less after half-time because we'll play another game on Saturday.

"We are controlling our fixtures increasingly more and we are gradually reading them better.

"We showcased a fast game and we also kept possession for longer periods of time in which we knew how to read the game.

"This means the team continues to grow and that's a good sign. The team is ambitious and will continue to do things better."