Real return with convincing win over Eibar

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Marcelo celebrates scoring their third goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Real Madrid beat Eibar 3-1 on Sunday in their first competitive match at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium following La Liga's three-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toni Kroos got Real off to an ideal start at the empty stadium based at their training ground by scoring in the fourth minute while captain Sergio Ramos struck on the half-hour mark before Marcelo netted in the 37th.

Real did ease off after the interval and Eibar forward Sergi Enrich struck the woodwork before Pedro Bigas pulled a goal back for the visiting side on the hour mark.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Marcelo and Gareth Bale celebrate after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Real coach Zinedine Zidane used all five of his substitutions as his players continued to tire.

The win kept Real on La Liga leaders Barcelona's heels with 59 points after 28 games. They are two points behind Barca after the Catalans beat Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday.

"We are very happy with the three points and that things are starting to get back to normal," said Ramos.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Marcelo and Gareth Bale celebrate after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

"It was a bit weird for everyone to return after such an awful crisis. It's been a strange situation, but at last we're back. Football is very important to everyone and to be able to step on the grass again gave us immense joy."

With Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium being revamped, Zidane's men re-started the campaign at the 6,000-capacity Di Stefano stadium where their reserve side play.

Real are usually greeted by a throng of supporters when their bus arrives at the Bernabeu but they faced a far more relaxing journey on Sunday as they walked 300 metres from their residency at the training ground to the stadium.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Luka Modric with coach Zinedine Zidane during drinks brake, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Germany midfielder Kroos put his side at ease with a powerful first-time shot which fizzed into the far top corner while Ramos struck the second by knocking a pass from Eden Hazard into the net to complete a sweeping counter attack.

Brazilian left back Marcelo then further stretched the scoreline with a lethal finish into the bottom corner and celebrated by kneeling and raising his right fist, an apparent tribute to the Black Lives Matter campaign taking place around the world.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Gareth Bale with coach Zinedine Zidane, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Eden Hazard in action with Eibar's Pablo de Blasis, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal with Eden Hazard, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Eibar - Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain - June 14, 2020 Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane during the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Susana Vera