Real Madrid showed no mercy at La Liga’s bottom team Real Betis to equalise leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, with both sides yet to play against Levante and Sevilla.
The hosts had a poor performance, shown defensive weakness since the first minute and heaping more pressure on under-fire manager Juan Carlos Garrido, who has been in charge for just one month, obtaining only one point in five games.
An inspired Cristiano Ronaldo led Los Blancos in a brilliant start. The Portuguese drove into the Betis half and slammed a fantastic strike straight into the top corner in the 11th minute.
Ronaldo was very motivated, and he delighted the fans with constant dances through challenges. In the 21st minute, he was generous enough to let Gareth Bale take a free kick he had won, and the Welshman curled one at the bottom of the net to make it 0-2.
Karim Benzema destroyed Betis hopes of savaging any point after receiving an assist from Luka Modric, placing his effort into the bottom corner just before half-time.
Ronaldo continued his exhibition in the second half, but goalkeeper Stephan Andersen denied all his efforts. However, he wasn’t able to claim Angel di Maria’s wonderful strike from 30 metres to give Madrid their fourth of the match.
After several attempts missed by Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata made it 0-5 in the final minute after receiving a cross from Marcelo, although he could have been offside.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men find themselves temporarily at the top of the table, with the same points than Atletico Madrid and Barcelona but having played one more game. Los Merengues victory, though, forces the leaders to keep winning in order to keep their position.
