Real Madrid set a new club record of 16 straight wins following their 2-1 victory over Malaga in La Liga on Saturday.
Los Blancos recalled Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal after the trio were rested for the midweek Champions League fixture against Basel, while Isco faced his former employers, partnering a 'tired' Toni Kroos in central midfield.
Malaga, meanwhile, saw their four-game winning streak ended by Atletico Madrid last week in a 3-1 defeat at Vicente Calderon and had beaten Carlo Ancelotti's men just once in 13 home meetings.
Madrid started the match with confidence flowing through their veins, and it took them just 12 minutes to threaten the Andalucians, as Cristiano Ronaldo's strike was saved by Carlos Kameni from point-blank range.
However, the hosts suddenly burst into life, when Samuel's cross from the left-hand side was headed towards goal by Roque Santa Cruz, forcing Iker Casillas into a vital stop to tip the ball over the crossbar.
It proved enough of a warning sign for the away side, as Ronaldo whizzed past Roberto Rosales before reaching the by-line and sending a low cross into the box. Karim Benzema was on hand to poke the finish home, amid accusations that he pulled Weligton's shirt in the process.
Nonetheless, Madrid's good work could have been undone in a split-second of madness from Casillas, who parried Sergi Darder's long-range effort downwards, courtesy of Pepe's failure to clear his lines sufficiently. The veteran then stepped over the ball and was only denied a freak own goal by the post.
With just minutes of the first half remaining, Gareth Bale came a whisker away from doubling the capital giants' lead, as he latched onto a through ball and found himself in the clear but was ultimately thwarted by Kameni.
Malaga suddenly hit back when Duda's thunderous free-kick clipped the crossbar, with Casillas struggling to get a hand onto the Portuguese's strike, to bring a pulsating first half to a close.
The second period continued in the same manner as the first, although this time it was Malaga with first sight of goal, as Recio rifled a shot from 30 yards out, which stung the palms of Casillas.
Isco then caught Recio napping in a dangerous position, and it allowed Benzema to find Ronaldo on the right, who in turn teed up the former Malaga ace for the finish, but the Cameroonian was again to the rescue.
The hosts would rue their luck just minutes later, as Darder's corner was headed just over the bar by Santa Cruz, followed up by Samu Castillejo's low strike on the edge of the box, which Casillas carelessly fumbled.
A bizarre mix-up in the Malaga box appeared to present Madrid the gift of a second goal, but again Kameni defied all logic by somehow blocking Ronaldo with the goal at his mercy.
However, the result and record were put beyond all doubt in spectacular fashion. A long ball was headed on by Ronaldo into the path of Bale, who accelerated at a rate of knots before smashing a right-footed effort across Kameni.
The match sadly finished on a sour note for ex-Malaga favourite Isco, as the midfielder's lunge into the back of Castillejo was worthy of a second yellow card and subsequent red.
Santa Cruz made sure of a grandstand finish when he buried Arthur Boka's cross deep in injury time, but Madrid held on for a legendary win.
Malaga 1-2 Real Madrid
Benzema 18, Bale 82, Santa Cruz 90
Malaga: Kameni; Rosales, Sanchez (Angeleri 67), Weligton, Boka; Recio (Juanpi 80), Darder; Samuel, Duda (Horta 65), Castillejo; Santa Cruz
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal (Varane 85), Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, James, Bale (Chicharito 89), Benzema (Illarramendi 73), Ronaldo
Referee: Inaki Bikando Garrido
