Granada's disciplined defense and the solid goalkeeping of Andres Fernandez held Madrid in check, while the visitors' attack matched their star-studded hosts chance for chance in an evenly-contested first half yesterday.
But Keylor Navas thwarted Granada's forward before Benzema tilted the match in Madrid's favor 10 minutes after halftime with a close-range header to put the Santiago Bernabeu crowd at ease.
Torres and Angel Correa both went on as second-half substitutes and inspired Atletico to a 2-0 win at Eibar, leaving Diego Simeone's side ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.
Valencia drew 0-0 at home with nine-man Real Betis after Dani Ceballos saw his second booking in the 48th, as Betis held on to take points despite having a player sent off early for a second straight match.
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Espanyol needed a 90th-minute header from Hernan Perez to secure a wild 3-2 win at 10-man Real Sociedad, whose Jonathas had leveled it 2-2 in the 86th. Sociedad had goalie Geronimo Rulli sent off with a direct red card for fouling Marco Asensio in the 41st.
"I had the chance to stay where I wanted to be and I will give it my all to remain here," Navas said. "It was complicated because you know it is an awkward situation. But that is the past and I try to focus on the present, which is all that matters."