Real Madrid smashed five goals past Rayo Vallecano to return to the top of the Spanish league after briefly being deposed by rivals Barcelona.

The score flattered Real Madrid, who scored a flurry of second half goals late on after a brave Rayo Vallecano effort had threatened an upset.

You have to win even when you don't play well in games like today
Luis Enrique

Gareth Bale returned to the starting line up to score within the first ten minutes and when Sergio Ramos added a second a heavy defeat was on the cards. But Rayo Vallecano's Alberto Bueno made the most of a horrific defensive mix up to pull a goal back before half time.

But Madrid eventually imposed their superiority on the game, with Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo completing the scoring.

It was the tenth game in a row that Ronaldo has scored. It was also the fifth time in eight league games that Madrid have scored five goals.