Ronaldo became the fastest player to score 100 goals in La Liga when he scored the first of his double tonight and now has 101 in 92 league games.

The league leaders had dropped points at home to Malaga and away at Villarreal in the past six days, but any lingering doubts were extinguished within seven minutes as Gonzalo Higuain swept home Karim Benzema's pass.

Ronaldo made it two as he latched on to Kaka's through ball to calmly slot past Claudio Bravo for his 100th Primera Division goal, and Benzema added a third with a wonderful lob over Bravo.

Xabi Prieto's deflected effort pulled a goal back for the visitors.

But Real continued to dominate and Benzema and Ronaldo doubled their tallies after the break thanks to more great build-up play from Sami Khedira and Higuain respectively.

Barcelona's 2-0 win at Mallorca had temporarily cut Madrid's lead to three points before kick-off.

For the first goal, Alexis Sanchez claimed he got the last touch to an inswinging Lionel Messi free-kick although there was still debate at the final whistle as to whether it should actually go down as the Argentinian's 55th of the season instead.

Defender Gerard Pique settled it by firing into an open goal after a Messi shot rebounded off the post.

Barca played the last 33 minutes with 10 men after Thiago Alcantara was shown two yellow cards, while for Mallorca the result brought an end to their four-match unbeaten run.

Valencia's indescribable slump continued tonight as they were beaten 3-1 in the capital by Getafe.

Unai Emery`s men have won just three games since the turn of the year and were humbled by Real Zaragoza in midweek, meaning all eyes were on them.

They failed dismally, though, with their defence parting on three occasions as Jaime Gavilan`s delivery proved too hot to handle.

He laid on goals for Pedro Rios, Miku and drew an own goal out of Bruno - all after Roberto Soldado had given Valencia an early lead.