Gareth Bale's header and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty eased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid earned an unspectacular win at Eibar.
Bale glanced in a Luca Modric cross just before half-time to claim his third goal of the season.
Ronaldo then scored his 16th after Lucas Vazquez was tripped late on.
Real avoided a third successive league defeat for the first time since the end of the 2008-09 season to move six points behind leaders Barcelona.
- Relive how Real won at Eibar
Bale scored his first La Liga goal since August
Benitez had received the backing of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his side's 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in last weekend's Clasico.
But the position of the former Liverpool manager would have been placed under further scrutiny had Real failed to beat the smallest club in La Liga and lost more ground in the title race.
Seventh-placed Eibar had lost only twice in the league this season and held their own for long periods.
But despite fielding a makeshift defence missing the injured Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo, Real's lead was rarely threatened once Bale broke the deadlock before the interval.
Ronaldo missed good chances either side of the break when he had just goalkeeper Asier Riesgo to beat.
But he ended his frustration from the spot eight minutes from time after Dani Garcia brought down substitute Vazquez, as Real secured the result Benitez badly needed.
Benitez said: "We knew they were playing well, that they are an intense and aggressive team. That's why the victory has more merit.
"We are in November. We have had injuries and the games are getting tougher. We have a great team and we are going to keep fighting until the end."
Bale has now scored 31 times in 61 starts in La Liga
Benitez has overseen just two defeats since taking over at Real Madrid in the summer
Cristiano Ronaldo had failed to score in his last two La Liga games
Ronaldo was denied two penalty claims before he had the chance to score from the spot
Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)
Eibar
- 13 Riesgo
- 07 Capa
- 15 Dos Santos Booked
- 03 Pantic
- 17 Juncà
- 05 Escalante Booked
- 14 García Carrillo
- 24 González Morales (Verdi - 70' Booked )
- 21 Berjón Pérez (Hajrovic - 85' )
- 09 Enrich Ametller (Arruabarrena - 86' )
- 08 Inui
Substitutes
- 01 Iruretagoiena Aranzamendi
- 02 Verdi
- 04 Ramis
- 06 Pascual Israfilov
- 10 Arruabarrena
- 11 Hajrovic
- 19 Luna
Real Madrid
- 01 Navas
- 15 Carvajal (Benzema - 85' )
- 03 Pepe Booked
- 06 Nacho
- 23 Danilo
- 10 Rodríguez (Vázquez Iglesias - 65' Booked )
- 19 Modric
- 08 Kroos
- 16 Kovacic Booked (Casemiro - 79' )
- 11 Bale Booked
- 07 Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 09 Benzema
- 13 Casilla Cortés
- 14 Casemiro
- 17 Arbeloa
- 18 Vázquez Iglesias
- 21 Cheryshev
- 33 Lazo Romero
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Eibar 0, Real Madrid 2.
90:00 +3:00 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Eibar 0, Real Madrid 2.
90:00 +2:50 BookingBooking Simone Verdi (Eibar) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90:00 +2:45Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:45Foul by Simone Verdi (Eibar).
90:00 +1:56Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gareth Bale following a fast break.
89:59Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
89:59Mikel Arruabarrena (Eibar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89:48Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88:42 BookingBooking Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
88:38Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88:38Foul by Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar).
86:57Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86:57Foul by Simone Verdi (Eibar).
86:18Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86:18Foul by Simone Verdi (Eibar).
85:13 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Eibar. Mikel Arruabarrena replaces Sergi Enrich.
84:52 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Eibar. Izet Hajrovic replaces Saúl Berjón.
84:34 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema replaces Daniel Carvajal because of an injury.
84:28Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) because of an injury.
81:34 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Eibar 0, Real Madrid 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
80:44Penalty Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez draws a foul in the penalty area.
80:44Penalty conceded by Dani García (Eibar) after a foul in the penalty area.
78:47 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Casemiro replaces Mateo Kovacic.
76:59Attempt missed. Takashi Inui (Eibar) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
76:06 BookingBooking Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
76:03Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
76:03David Juncà (Eibar) wins a free kick on the left wing.
73:21Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
73:21Foul by Simone Verdi (Eibar).
72:43Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross following a corner.
72:16Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Dani García.
71:40Danilo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
71:40Foul by Takashi Inui (Eibar).
70:48Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a through ball.
69:23 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Eibar. Simone Verdi replaces Adrián.
67:49Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by David Juncà.
65:16Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65:16Foul by Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar).
64:52 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces James Rodríguez.
63:54Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Danilo.
62:47 BookingBooking Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
61:05Attempt saved. Takashi Inui (Eibar) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
60:29 BookingBooking Pepe (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
60:24Foul by Pepe (Real Madrid).
60:24Sergi Enrich (Eibar) wins a free kick on the left wing.
59:16Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59:16Foul by Sergi Enrich (Eibar).
58:47Attempt missed. Aleksandar Pantic (Eibar) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Saúl Berjón with a cross following a corner.
58:33Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Pepe.
58:10Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Danilo.
57:40Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Nacho.
57:01Attempt missed. Sergi Enrich (Eibar) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Takashi Inui with a cross.
55:49Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Saúl Berjón.
55:00Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
55:00Sergi Enrich (Eibar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
54:11Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gareth Bale with a cross.
53:47Attempt missed. Ander Capa (Eibar) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
53:12Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
52:24Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
52:24Foul by Ander Capa (Eibar).
45:00Second Half begins Eibar 0, Real Madrid 1.
45:00 +1:00 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Eibar 0, Real Madrid 1.
45:00 +0:10Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Asier Riesgo.
45:00 +0:08Attempt saved. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pepe.
44:28Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44:28Foul by Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar).
42:30 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Eibar 0, Real Madrid 1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross following a corner.
41:46Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Mauro Dos Santos.
41:44Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luka Modric.
40:07Attempt saved. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
39:40Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Carvajal.
37:29Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
37:29Foul by Sergi Enrich (Eibar).
36:39 BookingBooking Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
36:34Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid).
36:34Dani García (Eibar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:50Offside, Eibar. Adrián tries a through ball, but Sergi Enrich is caught offside.
32:05Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a cross.
31:48Delay over. They are ready to continue.
30:18Delay in match Danilo (Real Madrid) because of an injury.
30:07 BookingBooking Mauro Dos Santos (Eibar) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
30:05Danilo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
30:05Foul by Mauro Dos Santos (Eibar).
29:39Attempt missed. Dani García (Eibar) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
29:08Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Pepe.
27:18Offside, Eibar. Saúl Berjón tries a through ball, but Sergi Enrich is caught offside.
26:40Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:40Foul by Sergi Enrich (Eibar).
26:06Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Rodríguez.
23:08Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:08Foul by Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar).
22:17Offside, Real Madrid. Mateo Kovacic tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
19:52Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
19:52Foul by Dani García (Eibar).
19:16Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
19:16Foul by Sergi Enrich (Eibar).
18:40Offside, Real Madrid. Luka Modric tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
18:18Attempt saved. Takashi Inui (Eibar) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adrián.
17:29Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
17:29Sergi Enrich (Eibar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
17:10Attempt saved. Danilo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
15:35Hand ball by Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar).
14:34Attempt missed. Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
14:32Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Rodríguez.
12:36Attempt saved. Sergi Enrich (Eibar) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Dani García.
11:59Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
11:59Dangerous play by Dani García (Eibar).
11:15Foul by Pepe (Real Madrid).
11:15Sergi Enrich (Eibar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
7:02Offside, Real Madrid. Luka Modric tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
5:24Offside, Eibar. Saúl Berjón tries a through ball, but Sergi Enrich is caught offside.
3:10Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
3:10Foul by Dani García (Eibar).
0:54Corner, Eibar. Conceded by Nacho.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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