La Liga Wrap: Ronaldo inspires Real, Rayo routed

The Portugal forward took his tally to 20 league goals this season with a second-half double as Gareth Bale made a substitute appearance following his calf injury.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring, turning home substitute Jese's cross with 67 minutes gone.

Ronaldo then took centre stage, scoring from close range eight minutes from time, with Bale setting up the third in stoppage time.

The result keeps Real within five points of leading duo Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who both won at the weekend.

Villarreal heaped misery on struggling Rayo Vallecano as Ikechukwu Uche's hat-trick helped the visitors to a 5-2 triumph.

The visitors climbed to sixth with their first win in four league matches, while Paco's relegation-threatened side are winless in five La Liga outings.

Uche, who now has nine goals this season, set the tone with the opener after 10 minutes, with Jeremy Perbet adding two more before the interval.

Two further strikes in six second-half minutes from Uche took the game beyond the hosts' reach, although Nery Castillo's brace, including one from the penalty spot, did restore some pride.