Real Madrid 4 Getafe 1: Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo earn easy win

Real Madrid have secured a comfortable 4-1 win over Getafe at the Bernabeu in La Liga, with all of the home side’s goals coming in the first half.

It took Rafael Benitez’s side less than five minutes to open the scoring as Pepe made a run forward to put in a cross for Karim Benzema, leaving the Frenchman to volley the ball in from close range.

Cristiano Ronaldo came close to adding a second shortly after when he attempted to curl the ball in from a free kick, but Benzema did double the lead when he beat Medhi Lacen to leave himself with an easy finish into the bottom corner.

Getafe had a couple of chances to get back into the match midway through the first half, but Damian Suarez’s shot failed to test Keylor Navas, while a weak finish from Pablo Sarabia a couple of minutes later was easily stopped by the Real keeper. The hosts added to their lead again when Ronaldo flicked a high ball forward into the path of Gareth Bale, setting up the Wales international for a low drive into the back of the net.

Ronaldo was on the scoresheet himself a couple of minutes later, powering past Roberto Lago to meet a through-ball from Toni Kroos before slicing past Vicente Guaita.

The hosts could have added a fifth at the start of the second half as Benzema attempted to complete his hat-trick after Cala failed to clear a ball in the box, but the striker’s header was wide of the target. Real started to slow the tempo of the match as the hour mark approached, keeping possession in midfield as Getafe continued to see limited possession in the home side’s half of the pitch.

The visitors managed to get a goal back with 20 minutes remaining, with Alexis rising highest in the penalty area to meet a cross from Pedro Leon, nodding into the top corner. Getafe tried to reduce the deficit further as full time approached, but Pepe managed to clear the ball while Scepovic was attempting to get a header away.

Real continued to look for a fifth in the final minutes of the tie, but James Rodriguez was unable to time his pass to Ronaldo, while Toni Kroos rifled his long-range effort straight at the keeper.

The result leaves Real second in the table, three points behind league leaders Barcelona, while Getafe sit 13th.