Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as Real Madrid cruised to a 5-0 victory at Mallorca on Sunday to keep up the pressure at the top of La Liga.
Jose Callejon got the fifth as Real Madrid remained in fourth position, a point behind Malaga in third, and eight behind leaders Barcelona, who crushed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 on Saturday, and second-placed Atletico Madrid.
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Ronaldo has now scored in eight consecutive games for Madrid -- 14 goals in total and 11 in the league.
Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao scored to make it 10 in the league for him, as Atletico Madrid beat Osasuna 3-1 to stay level on points with Barca.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho returned Higuain to the starting line-up after favouring Karim Benzema in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund.
The Argentinian striker did not take long to repay that faith when he pounced on a defensive error by Mallorca's Anderson Conceicao to hit the opener after only seven minutes.
Luka Modric also returned to the starting eleven, replacing the injured Sami Khedira, and he was involved in much of Madrid's better play.
Mallorca's best chance of the first period fell to Emilio N'Sue who almost surprised Iker Casillas from long range before Ronaldo doubled the lead on 21 minutes.
The Portuguese star was on hand to finish a sweeping move that saw the ball switch from left to right, from Mesut Ozil to Angel Di Maria, passing through Higuain before Ronaldo finished calmly.
Real Madrid celebrate their goal. Photo: AFP
Madrid continued to control proceedings in the second period restricting the home team's attacking options with clever possession play.
As Mallorca grew more frustrated space began to appear and Ronaldo took advantage to carve open the home defence and gift Higuain his second of the evening and sixth league goal of the season on 69 minutes.
Three minutes later Higuain was the provider for Ronaldo, when both needed only one touch to turn a counter-attack into Madrid's fourth.
Substitute Callejon added the final goal from close range in the last minute.
Atletico responded well to Barca piling on the pressure at the top with a 5-0 romp at Rayo Vallecano twenty-four hours earlier.
They were always the better side in the Vicente Calderon, recording a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.
Joao Miranda, with a glancing header, and a Raul Garcia strike gave Atletico a two-goal advantage after 35 minutes before Roland Lamah pulled one back for Osasuna, who stay bottom of the table, just before half-time.
Falcao finished off any threat Osasuna posed on 73 minutes when he turned in a Juanfran cross for an incredible 17 goals in 11 consecutive games in all competitions.
Getafe won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao and there were home wins for Zaragoza and Levante.
Juan Rodriguez and Alvaro Vazquez, with a scissor kick, got a goal in each half for Getafe in Bilbao against an out of sorts Athletic, for who Mikel San Jose got a last minute reply.
The result leaves the Basque side just one point above the relegation zone in 16th position, while Getafe comfortably move into eighth on 13 points.
Levante beat Granada 3-1 to go sixth with two goals from ex-Newcastle player Obafemi Martins and a Pedro Rios strike. Youssef El Arabi got a late consolation for the visitors.
Portuguese striker Hector Postiga and Romanian full-back Cristian Sapunaru got the goals for Zaragoza in a 2-1 win over Sevilla.
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