Spanish champions Real Madrid on Saturday thumped Sevilla 5-0 to cut down Barcelona’s lead on the LaLiga log.
Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice for Los Blancos, while Nacho, Toni Kroos and Achraf Hakimi were also on the scoresheet as Zinedine Zidane’s ran riot on home soil.
Lucas Vazquez came close to sending Real Madrid ahead in just the second minute of action, but the winger’s curling effort from the edge of the box was saved by Rico.
The home side did take the lead from the resulting corner, however, when a mix-up between Muriel and Simon Kjaer allowed Nacho the chance to sweep the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Los Blancos were having the opportunities, but Sevilla were enjoying plenty of the ball as they looked to hit back, and Carole had a low strike deflected just wide of the post in the 15th minute.
Sevilla were full of adventure as they looked for an equaliser, and that cost them down the other end as Ronaldo sent Real Madrid 2-0 ahead in the 23rd minute with a fine finish from an Asensio pass.
It then went from bad to worse for Sevilla in the 31st minute when Jesus Navas conceded a penalty for handball inside the box, which allowed Ronaldo to step forward and send the home side three goals ahead.
Luka Modric and Ronaldo had chances to add to the scoring in the period that followed, and only some smart goalkeeping from Rico prevented Sevilla from conceding another two in quick succession.
Real Madrid did score their fourth in the 38th minute, however, when Kroos passed a low Lucas Vazquez cross into the back of the net following another counter-attack from the home side.
Four then became five in the 42nd minute when Hakimi raced onto a pass from Benzema before beating Rico at his near post to cap what was an incredible first half of football at the Bernabeu.
Sevilla had two decent chances to get their name on the scoresheet early in the second period, but Nolito curled one into the arms of Keylor Navas, before the Real Madrid goalkeeper got down well to keep out Muriel’s effort.
The home side might have scored five in the first half, but Karim Benzema was not on the scoresheet, and the striker’s troubles continued in the second half as he had a weak attempt blocked just before the hour.
Benzema had another super chance in the 67th minute after meeting a cross from Marcelo, but the Frenchman’s header smashed off the foot of the post.
Dani Ceballos followed Marcos Llorente off the Real Madrid bench as Zidane rested Kroos and Modric for the final stages, and chances as a whole were few and far between in the second 45 minutes.
There would be no hat-trick for Ronaldo as the number seven was brought off in the 76th minute, but it was a job well done for the home side as they overcame a couple of key suspensions and injuries to put another three points on the board.
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