Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Real Madrid dispatched Rayo Vallecano.
Bale scored inside 10 minutes of his comeback from a buttock injury when Rayo lost possession 20 yards from their goal. Seconds later, Bale was converting Toni Kroos’ cross.
Sergio Ramos doubled the lead before half-time, netting in unorthodox fashion from James’ corner, the score line suggesting Madrid superiority even if the reality wasn’t quite that way.
Alberto Bueno gave the score line a fairer look when he capitalised on a James’ error, the Columbian giving the ball away inside his own penalty area and Bueno eventually tapping home.
Madrid’s two-goal lead was restored through Kroos, who latched on to a Cristiano Ronaldo toe-poke and curled a placed shot into the bottom corner for his first Madrid goal.
Benzema got his 110th Madrid goal shortly after but did so having been in an offside position, yet the assistant’s flag never went up.
Ronaldo added his name to the score-sheet inside the final 10 minutes when the otherwise-excellent Cristian Alvarez let a tame shot through his legs.
Isco dropped out of the side to make way for Bale while Iker Casillas was given a rest, Keylor Navas taking the gloves. Paco Jemez also made five changes to the visiting side.
Rayo made an encouraging start but it didn’t last, Madrid ruthlessly punishing a turnover in possession. The visitors conceded the ball on the edge of their own penalty area, Ronaldo played in Kroos and his cross was knocked in by Bale
Ronaldo wasted a good position but was largely on the periphery, while at the other end, Navas’ palms were stung by a Leo Baptistao drive and a number of Rayo crosses caused concern for the Madrid defence.
Madrid twice went close to a second in quick succession, James first pulling a fine save from Cristian Alvarez with a swerving, dipping shot, and Karim Benzema hitting the crossbar with a header from the resulting corner.
The second duly came moments later from another corner, Ramos’ thigh making contact with James’ delivery and putting daylight between the sides, although not for long as James’ brain-freeze gave Bueno an opening.
Rayo put on the pressure to open the second half but the best chance fell to Luka Modric, his curling shot flashing wide of goal. Baptistao had the ball in the net shortly after but was flagged for offside and then, shortly after that, Kroos found the bottom corner.
Benzema got in on the act minutes later despite being a good yard behind the defence when the ball was played as Madrid pulled out of sight.
Navas had a nervy moment when flying out to meet a cross dropping around the penalty spot and getting nowhere near it, but the ball bounced past the empty net.
Bale was close to a fifth with a swerving half-volley that Alvarez tipped onto the crossbar but the goalkeeper was at fault when the fifth goal finally game, perhaps beaten by the wet weather more than Ronaldo’s rather weak effort.
Ronaldo’s goal was the last of the night and ensured the result was unduly harsh on a brave, attack-minded Rayo.
Madrid 5-1 Rayo
Bale 9, Ramos 40 (RM), Bueno 44 (RV), Kroos 56, Benzema 59, Ronaldo 84 (RM)
Real Madrid: Navas; Nacho, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, James (Isco 68); Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema (Medran 84), Bale (Hernandez 84)
Real Madrid substitutes: Casillas, Varane, Arbeloa, Medran, Isco, Aguza, Hernandez
Rayo Vallecano: Cristian; Tito, Ze, Abdoulaye, Insua (Quini 24); Fatau, Trashorras (Jozabed 62); Lica, Kakuta, Bueno; Baptistao (Manucho 73)
Rayo Vallecano substitutes: Cobeno, Baena, Manucho, Aquino, Quini, Jozabed, Pozuelo
Referee: Perez Montero
