The league leaders scored the first goal of the game at the 23-minute mark when Cristiano Ronaldo finished off a clever move, and Sami Khedira doubled Real's lead seven minutes before the interval.

Gonzalo Higuain struck from close range two minutes into the second half before Kaka made it 4-0 in the 66th minute with a well-deserved goal.

Higuain put the icing on the cake for the hosts with 12 minutes to go, as Madrid continued to close on what would be their first La Liga title since 2007-08.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Valencia consolidated third place after a 1-0 win at Granada.

Sofiane Feghouli scored the only goal of the game just after the half-hour mark to pull Valencia to within 14 points of second-placed Barcelona.

Athletic Bilbao climbed to fourth after their 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad, with winger Susaeta scoring both goals for the hosts.

Real Zaragoza claimed three much-needed points with a 2-1 home win over Villarreal.

Alejandro Martinuccio gave the visitors the lead at the Estadio de la Romareda, but an 85th-minute strike from Luis Garcia levelled proceedings before Abraham's neat finish in the third minute of stoppage of time secured a vital win for Manolo Jimenez's side.

Zaragoza are still bottom of the league table, however, and are three points behind 19th-placed Sporting Gijon.