Ronaldo scores four as Real Madrid hit Elche for five
Real Madrid have now scored 18 goals over the last seven days, banishing memories of the back-to-back la Liga defeats which came before.
Tuesday night's victims were Elche.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored four - completing his second successive hat-trick, his 25th for Madrid, in the process - and Gareth Bale added the other as Carlo Ancelotti's stiker-less side swept to a 5-1 victory at the Bernabeu.
Elche had taken the lead, though, and there were several signs that Madrid still have plenty of work to do defensively.
For the moment, though, they're capable of outscoring most opponents.
Ancelotti left both his strikers - Karim Benzema and Javier Hernandez - out of his lineup, instead putting out a front four of Isco, James Rodriguez, Ronaldo and Bale.
Keylor Navas also came in for Iker Casillas, while Luka Modric was replaced by Asier Illarramendi.
The changes told early on as the visitors were able to tear forward in search of the opening goal.
Dani Carvajal had already given away one dangerous free-kick when Ronaldo was guilty of giving away a penalty which Edu Albacar scored.
Minutes later, Marcelo was booked for a foul right on the edge of the area as Elche threatened a second.
One James cross and a Bale header soon brought Madrid level, though, shattering Fran Escriba's side's belief in the progress.
Eight minutes later, just before the half hour mark, Marcelo's dramatic tumble earned Madrid a speculative penalty and the chance to take the lead.
Ronaldo converted, taking him to six league goals in little more than three matches; he didn't have to wait long for his seventh, eighth and ninth.
Marcelo delivered the cross for his seventh and the Portuguese forward displayed impressive neck muscles to power the ball bast Manu Herrera.
That was the 32nd minute, however, and his treble wouldn't be completed until the 80th.
Inbetween there was an awful lot of nothing.
Elche continued to push forward, although they rarely troubled Navas on his competitive debut for Los Blancos.
Madrid were quiet, too, until Clos Gomez awarded them their second penalty, the third of the night, when Ronaldo was fouled inside the area.
The 29-year-old scored again from 12-yards and almost added a fourth with a far post header.
Substitute Hernandez was then guilty of missing a chance for Madrid's fifth, but Ronaldo did it grab it, his ninth la Liga goal in four games, when Bale's pass sent him through in stoppage time.
