Real Madrid came from behind to record a 7-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in Sunday’s La Liga clash at the Bernabeu.
Zinedine Zidane’s side entered the match having lost their last two league fixtures on home soil, and they fell behind to the relegation-threatened visitors in the 23rd minute of the contest.
Los Blancos then scored seven times without reply, however, to return to fourth position in La Liga ahead of Villarreal.
The reigning champions are now 16 points off league leaders Barcelona on the same number of fixtures.
The visitors were ahead in the 23rd minute, however, when Adrian Lopez tapped a low Lucas Perez cross into the back of the net from close range as the Bernabeu was stunned into silence.
The post came to Deportivo’s rescue just before the 30-minute mark after Ruben allowed a Marcelo strike to squirm under his body, but Real Madrid did deservedly level the scores two minutes later when Nacho, who was picked out by Marcelo, found the far corner from inside the box.
The home side then took the lead in the 42nd minute when Bale picked out the top corner with a super curling effort having collected a deep cross from Marcelo.
Ruben then made a quite sensational save to deny Casemiro from close range, but Real Madrid had their third in the 58th minute when Bale headed a Toni Kroos corner past the Deportivo goalkeeper from close range.
It was the first time all season that Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo had all been on the field at the same time, and Real Madrid scored their fourth shortly after – Modric firing home from the edge of the box following a flick from Ronaldo.
Ronaldo fired just wide of the Deportivo post in the 72nd minute as chances continued to arrive, and the Portuguese finally got his name on the scoresheet in the 78th minute when he turned a Casemiro cross home from close range.
The number seven did make it 6-1 in the 84th minute, however, when he headed a Lucas Vazquez cross into the bottom corner. It came at a price though as a kick to the face left the attacker bloodied, and indeed unable to finish the match.
The scoring was not finished, however, with Nacho netting his second of the match in the 88th minute as the centre-back swivelled inside the box before turning home.