Real Madrid have stretched their winning run in La Liga to eight games courtesy of a 5-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
The home side took the lead with nine minutes played through Gareth Bale, who marked his return to the starting lineup following an injury layoff by converting Toni Kroos's cross beyond Cristian Alvarez.
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Despite their early lead, Madrid struggled to build on their advantage and found clear-cut chances hard to come by as the first half wore on, although that soon changed when James Rodriguez forced Alvarez into making a superb save to keep out his long-range drive.
Five minutes before the interval, Los Blancos, who have now won their last 13 games in all competitions, found their flow once more and came close to doubling the scoreline when Karim Benzema's header came back off the crossbar.
Sergio Ramos did manage to find a second to seemingly give his side some breathing space heading into the break - diverting a corner into the back of the net in an unorthodox manner using his thigh.
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Madrid failed to hold onto their two-goal lead, however, with Leo Baptistao capitalising on James's weak back pass to set up Alberto Bueno for an easy finish to keep the game alive.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges found it easier going in the second half, and they put the game beyond their opponents with two goals in four minutes to assert their authority on proceedings.
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First, Kroos added to his earlier assists by firing a sublime effort beyond Alvarez, before Benzema - who was standing in an offside position - nodded home Cristiano Ronaldo's cross to add a fourth.
Bale could not quite double his personal tally for the night with a volleyed-effort which came back off the bar, but Ronaldo put the icing on the cake with his 23rd goal of the season after Alvarez let the forward's shot squirm through his legs.
The victory sees Madrid regain their two-point lead at the top of La Liga, while Vallecano are now 12th having lost their last three games.
Daniel Lewis
