Real Madrid closes in on joint leaders

MADRID—Gareth Bale scored four goals, Karim Benzema added three and Cristiano Ronaldo two as Real Madrid routed nine-man Rayo Vallecano, 10-2, to temporarily get within two points of Spanish league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Madrid was losing with both teams at full strength at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but it took advantage of two early red cards to Rayo Vallecano to get back into the game and ease the pressure on coach Rafa Benitez.

Danilo opened the scoring in the third minute before Antonio Amaya equalized in the 10th and Jozabed Sanchez put Rayo ahead in the 12th. But Rayo lost Roberto “Tito” Roman to a straight red in the 14th after a foul on Toni Kroos and Madrid leveled through Bale in the 25th.

Raul Baena was then sent off for a second bookable offence in the 28th after bringing down Sergio Ramos in the penalty area. Ronaldo netted the resulting spot kick to give Madrid a 3-2 lead. The hosts then made the two-man advantage count with a flurry of goals.

Bale netted his second in the 41st and completed his hat-trick in the 61st after Benzema and Ronaldo had struck in the 48th and 53rd, respectively.

Bale added a fourth in the 70th before Benzema netted two more in the 79th and 90th minute for the game’s second hat trick.

It was the first time Bale scored four goals for Real Madrid. Benzema had scored five times in Madrid’s previous two games at home, including three in an 8-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League two weeks ago.

“We started well but we didn’t keep the same intensity,” Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas said. “They took advantage of their opportunities, but then we took control of the game again and got an easy win.”

Madrid’s victory made things easier for Benitez, who has been heavily criticized by fans and local media despite having the support of president Florentino Perez. Call for Benitez’s departure increased after the team’s 1-0 loss at Villarreal last weekend.