The teammates of Karim Benzema, who celebrated his 34th birthday on Sunday, largely dominated the game but never managed to break through the yellow wall of Cadiz, penultimate in La Liga.

The "White House" has thus put an end to its series of ten matches won in a row in all competitions, but remains undefeated since October 3 (2-1 defeat on the lawn of Espanyol Barcelona).

Largely diminished by the six cases of Covid-19 which affected the workforce this week (Marcelo and Luka Modric on Wednesday, Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Rodrygo and Andriy Lunin on Thursday), Carlo Ancelotti's training stumbled throughout the match on the impassable Argentinian porter of Cadiz, Jeremias Ledesma.

Belgian Real Madrid striker Eden Hazard stumbles against Argentinian Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma during LaLiga Matchday 18 on December 19, 2021 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu JAVIER SORIANO AFP

The goalkeeper was heroic in the face of repeated attempts by Fede Valverde (24th), Vinicius (60th), and even Eden Hazard (56th), finally holder for the 6th time of the season only.

Casemiro suspended

Ditto for Karim Benzema: the top scorer in the Spanish league (13 goals in 17 matches) did not find the target on Sunday, and also stumbled on Ledesma with a perfectly placed free kick in the 81st.

French Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema sees his recovery thwarted by Equatorial Guinea defender of Cadiz, Carlos Akapo, during LaLiga Matchday 18, December 19, 2021 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium JAVIER SORIANO AFP

Despite this draw, Real are approaching the end of the year truce with six points ahead of their runners-up, Sevilla FC, winner 2-1 the day before at home of the reigning Spanish champion, Atlético , 5th with 14 points behind the "Merengues".

The joy of Argentinian Sevilla FC midfielder Luis Ocampos after opening the scoring at home against Villareal on LaLiga Matchday 16, December 4, 2021 CRISTINA QUICLER AFP / Archives

Real will play for the last time before the holidays on Wednesday (9:30 p.m.) in an advanced game of La Liga Matchday 21 on the lawn of Athletic Bilbao, winner of the snatch 3-2 Sevilla Betis in the evening.

Ancelotti will however have to compose without the players affected by the Covid-19 and without Casemiro, who received his 5th yellow card of the season on Sunday for a gross foul on Jaime Latre (26th), and who will therefore be suspended on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Granada crushed Mallorca 4-1 thanks in particular to a hat-trick from veteran Jorge Molina, who at 39 years and 241 days became the oldest player in the history of the Spanish league to achieve a hat trick, ahead of Sevilla Betis forward Joaquin Sanchez against Athletic Bilbao in December 2019, at 38 years and 140 days.

© 2021 AFP