Benitez banned for three months

Real scored twice in the closing nine minutes to trouser the three points, prompting ugly scenes as the home players surrounded referee Carlos Clos Gomez before on-loan Udinese player Benitez was seen throwing the container.

Aggression towards a referee carries a three-month suspension from the Spanish Football Federation with Benitez apologising for his actions in the aftermath of the contest.

Defender Siqueira and midfiedler Moises Hurtado were handed four-match bans for red cards in the late furore with coaches Inaki Garcia and David Navarro also suspended for several games.

Granada need to beat fellow Liga strugglers Rayo Vallecano this weekend to be sure of avoiding relegation from the top division.