Bale hits four as Real Madrid swamp Rayo 10-2

Real Madrid were looking for a lift after the previous weekend’s defeat at El Madrigal and they secured the perfect opening. Gareth Bale fed Danilo and the Brazilian right back fired the ball under Yoel Rodriguez after only three minutes.

Rayo fightback

Rayo, who had lost their last three games on the trot, were undimmed. They levelled at a corner seven minutes later when defender Antonio Amaya rose above Pepe to nod past Keylor Navas. It got worse for Los Blancos when Rayo then took the lead with another header, this time it was midfielder Jozabed Sanchez who beat the home defence to score.

Rayo had just forced Navas to make a smart save at his near post when the wind was taken out of their sails. Midfielder Tito was shown a straight red card for a foot-up challenge on Toni Kroos in the 14th minute, and Madrid took advantage.

Danilo returned the favour for Bale in the 25th minute floating in a cross from the right and the Welshman buried a header past Yoel.

25' GOOOOOOOOOOAL by @GarethBale11!!! #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/dlwVTb3wz3

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) December 20, 2015

Rayo down to nine men

There was barely chance to draw breath. Rayo were reduced to nine players after 28 minutes when midfielder Raul Baena picked up a second yellow card for a foul in the area and Cristiano Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot.

With two men extra Madrid were able to exploit the spaces and Bale was put through on goal after 41 minutes and he fired low into the corner for his sixth in the Liga BBVA this term.

James assists

After the break, James Rodriguez set up goals for Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter taking his tally for the season to 12.

Rayo’s Lass Bangoura forced a save from Navas, but it was mostly one-way traffic with Madrid players lining up to score as the visitors tired. Ronaldo cut in off the right flank and set up Bale for his hat-trick in the 61st minute.

Bale bags four

The former Tottenham Hotspur forward doubled his tally for the season to eight, when he created and scored his fourth in the 70th minute to put Madrid 8-2 up, and he was substituted off soon after.

Benzema bagged his second 11 minutes from time turning on a pass from Luka Modric, and the France striker completed his hat-trick pouncing on a Mateo Kovacic chest down at the end to make it 10-2 at the final whistle.  

90' GOOOOOOOOOOAL by @Benzema!!! Hat-trick!!!  #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/YJE07Cqohi

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) December 20, 2015