Angel Di Maria proved Real Madrid's super sub in their Champions League clash against Auxerre.
Spaniards come through endurance test against Auxerre
Angel Di Maria proved Real Madrid's super sub in their UEFA Champions League clash as he came off the bench to sink Auxerre.
The Spanish superpowers dominated Tuesday's trip to France but their goalscoring deficiency looked set to continue as they struggled for long periods to break down the Ligue 1 side.
Manager Jose Mourinho put his faith in Karim Benzema to turn around Real's misfiring strikeforce, but the French forward joined the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain in failing to break down the hosts.
Mourinho, whose side had scored just eight goals in six competitive games this season, turned to his bench and substitutes Mesut Ozil and Di Maria combined nine minutes from time to give the visitors the lead they craved.
The La Liga giants continued their 100 per cent start to Group G, which sees them top the pile after AC Milan could only play out a 1-1 draw at Ajax.
Nervy
Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas had a nervy moment in the fourth minute after Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech left the World Cup winner stranded but the Kenyan was unable to track down his heavy touch with an open goal at his mercy.
Much was made of Benzema's inclusion in the starting XI for the visitors, but the French forward was outshone by his team-mate and countryman Lassana Diarra in the opening stages.
Diarra was the only player able to break past Auxerre's rearguard on a regular basis for Real but two long-rangers in the quick succession from the former Portsmouth midfielder failed to trouble the scoreline.
Kamel Chafni was in the right place at the right time to deny Higuain midway through the first-half as he cleared the Argentine striker's close-range shot off the line.
The French side looked most threatening from set-pieces in the first-half and Delvin Ndinga had Casillas scrambling across his line as the midfielder's header flashed past the far post.
Xabi Alonso was allowed time to pick out a pass in the 36th minute and the Real midfielder's sweet delivery to Marcelo nearly unlocked Auxerre's defence but goalkeeper Olivier Sorin made sufficient contact to deny the Brazilian full-back.
A display of petulance from Real's world record signing Ronaldo in the 39th minute saw him become the first player to go into Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen's book before Auxerre skipper Benoit Pedretti stung Casillas' palms after a poor clearance by defender Pepe two minutes before half-time.
Authority
Real continued to stamp their authority on the contest in the second-half as they dominated possession but Auxerre's defence were able to deal with the Spaniard's threat when they approached the hosts' penalty area.
Mourinho lost patience with Benzema and brought summer signing Ozil in the Frenchman's place just before the hour mark but the Portuguese boss was growing more upset when Auxerre squandered a good chance to take the lead.
Pedretti's through-ball on 62 minutes deserved better when Ireneusz Jelen's early shot fired wide when the half-time substitute looked to have the legs on Real's centre-backs.
Ronaldo was finding it tough to impose himself on the game, but the former Manchester United winger - who scored seven goals in six Champions League appearances last year - came close to opening the scoring as his powerful free-kick in the 69th minute was unconvincingly punched away by Sorin.
And Ronaldo went close with a header from the resulting corner but the former World Player of the Year was still unable to find his range.
Impact
Mourinho again looked to his bench and tweaked the formation with Di Maria coming on for Diarra.
And the Argentine winger made a quick impact as he flashed a delicious low cross to the back post in the 76th minute and Higuain should have done better to get on the end of his compatriot's delivery.
Casillas was left in no-man's land as Pepe's defensive header crashed off his own post three minutes later and Real were given a real let-off.
And the near-miss managed to inspire the visitors as they at last managed to find the elusive goal in the 81st minute.
Sergio Ramos managed to get away with a hand-ball in the build-up to the goal before Ozil picked out Di Maria in the area and the winger applied the finish with his left foot.
Auxerre went in search of an equaliser and their best chance came in stoppage time but Jelen continued to fluff his lines as he wasted yet another chance and it proved to be their last as Real snatched the spoils.
