Madrid - Real Madrid cruised to the top of the Spanish Liga on Sunday with a 5-0 destruction of minnows Xerez, with four goals in an impressive final 15-minute onslaught. The handsome win puts the whites level on nine points with Barcelona and surprise package Athletic Bilbao after three games, but ahead on goal difference.
Cristiano Ronaldo took centre stage in the Estadio Bernabeu with two more goals. The Portuguese winger has scored a total of six goals in his first four competitive games for the whites, and has thus started to repay his massive transfer fee.
Real's other goals were scored by veterans Guti and Ruud Van Nistelrooy and by Karim Benzema, his first for his new club.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said that "I am happy because we won 5-0," but accepted that "we did not play well."
He pointed out that "we have certain irregularities ... but I have a clear conscience because of the way that things are turning out."
Ronaldo - who scored two on Tuesday against FC Zurich - opened the scoring against Xerez in the very first minute, with one of his trademark thunderbolts from outside the penalty area.
Real then lost their rhythm, against frightened opponents who defended in depth and refused to come out of their shell.
In the 76th minute Ronaldo made it 2-0 by heading in a corner. With the three points in the bag, the fiesta could finally begin.
Guti added the third by smashing home a rebound, Benzema joined the party with a left-foot drive to make it 4-0.
Then Van Nistelrooy came off the bench and, to the delight of the capacity crowd, completed the rout. The popular Dutchman has been out of action for 10 months after a knee ligament operation.
Xerez defender Jose Casado said that "they are an excellent team, they never seem to get tired of looking for more goals."
Xerez, in the top flight for the first time ever, are rock bottom with zero points - and seemingly bound for a speedy return to the second division.
Earlier on Sunday, Bilbao had kept up their 100-per-cent record with a 3-2 home defeat of troubled Villarreal.
Bilbao, who field only Basque players and refuse to sign foreigners, have won their first three games of the season for the first time since 1983.
Spain striker Fernando Llorente was the hero in Bilbao's legendary San Mames stadium, scoring the first two goals.
Llorente led the "Lions" ahead after just 12 minutes, then made it 2-0 five minutes before half-time despite a suspicion of offside.
Cani pulled a goal back for Villarreal in the 49th minute, but Javi Lopez made it 3-1 for the hosts by heading in a corner 10 minutes later.
Five minutes from time, Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla gave Villarreal hope by scoring from a free-kick, but Bilbao held on for a an important win.
"The crowd really helped us today," said Bilbao anchorman Carlos Gurpegui. "As usual, they really got behind us."
Gurpegui added that "it is wonderful to be at the top, but we must take this thing one game at a time, without letting it go to our heads."
In Sunday's late game, Valencia missed the chance to keep up with Real, Barca and Bilbao. "Los Ches" were held to a 2-2 draw at home by 10-man Sporting Gijon, a result which pulls them down to joint fourth with Mallorca, both on seven points.
David Barral gave Gijon an early lead, only for Spain striker David Villa to quickly level for Valencia.
Gijon had midfielder Michel sent off for handball in the 26th minute, but deservedly battled out a draw.
Villa made it 2-1 with a clever left-foot shot, but defender Gregory gave the visitors a deserved point by heading in a free-kick four minutes from time.
Villa is now joint top of the scorers' chart with Cristiano Ronaldo, both with four goals.
In Sunday's other games, Valladolid won 2-1 away to Zaragoza with goals from Marquitos and Sisi, and Almeria beat Getafe 1-0 on a goal from Michel Macedo.
