Gareth Bale made it 18 goals in his first season at Real Madrid with the spectacular second in his team's convincing win over Real Sociedad.
The Welshman took full advantage of a mistake by keeper Claudio Bravo hammering the ball past him after he had been gifted possession by the Chilean keeper.
Bale took the Cristiano Ronaldo role so seriously that not only did he score, the 24-year-old also played out the game with a cut knee just as the rested leading scorer had done two weeks ago.
Cannonball kid: Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scored a superb goal as his side beat Real Sociedad 4-0
Midfield spark: Asier Illarramendi celebrates opening the scoring for Madrid against Sociedad
Through the gap: Real midfielder Isco tries to evade the attentions of Real Sociedad's Mikel Gonzalez, left, and Carlos Martinez
Bale cut his right leg as he fell on to the studs of Markel Bergara after he had been scythed down by the defender.
It
was not the most inspirational of Real Madrid performances in the first
half, but they moved through the gears in the second period
to take the three points to stay in touch with Atletico Madrid and
Barcelona, who earlier both won their games on Saturday.
Diego Lopez saved point blank from Carlos Vela with the first chance of the game, although an erroneous offside flag meant the goal would not have stood.
Rising like a salmon: Real's Bale jumps for the ball against Sociedad
Joy: Real's Asier Illarra, right, celebrates scoring a goal against Real Sociedad with team-mates Bale, left, and Sergio Ramos
Taking aim: Bale's shot is blocked by Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez
Real Sociedad then had to take Jose Angel off injured, with Ion Ansotegui coming on for the home side.
Antoine Griezman had Real Sociedad’s next chance with a looping heading from a Vela pass as Real Madrid struggled to get into their stride.
On 26 minutes, Real Madrid had their first free-kick in a dangerous area and with no Ronaldo, Bale stepped up but shot tamely into the wall.
Despite suggestions before the game he would play in Ronaldo’s left-side berth, he started in his usual right wing position, although he switched to the left with 10 minutes left of the first half and enjoyed his best spell whipping over a fine cross that just eluded Benzema.
Bale was then found by a superb pass from former Tottenham team-mate Luka Modric, but this time failed to get his cross in.
Handy option: Real midfielder Modric reacts during the victory over Sociedad
Surrounded: Real star Bale tries to dribble past Sociedad's Markel Bergara, left, and Ion Ansotegi
Madrid finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Benzema’s shot was blocked by Bravo and ran straight into the path of Asier Illaramendi. The former Real Sociedad midfielder stuck out a right leg to shin the ball home, refusing to celebrate against his old team.
Ramos crashed a header on to the bar from a Xabi Alonso free-kick at the start of the second half.
Carlos
Martinez shot from distance for Real Sociedad but there looked little
chance of a comeback from the home side and Bale kept up the Real Madrid
pressure, first with a header from a Modric corner and then a shot
through a crowded penalty area that Bravo blocked.
Numbers game: Real's Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring the fourth goal
Keeping it Real: Pepe scored Los Blancos' third, left, and joined in when celebrating the strike from Bale along with manager Carlo Ancelotti, far right, against Sociedad
Close attention: Sociedad's Jose Angel Valdes tries to get the ball off Bale
The Chilean keeper then kept out a Xabi Alonso free-kick. He also watched a Benzema shot come back off of his post. But he could do nothing about the Bale shot after he inadvertently gifted him the chance.
Bale was mobbed by the Real Madrid bench having once again proved that Ronaldo's absence need not be a problem for them. He was taken off with five minutes left just as Real got their third from a corner. Modric's kick was headed down by Ramos and Pepe pounced to finish from the edge of the six-yard box.
And there was still time for substitute Alvaro Morata to race away and convert a well-taken fourth
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