Match ends, Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored four times as Real Madrid cruised to a 7-1 win over Celta Vigo to move within a point of second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Ronaldo claimed his fifth hat-trick of the season to take his total to 39.
He struck three times in 15 minutes after the break, after Pepe had headed Real into a 1-0 half-time lead.
Iago Aspas pulled a goal back but Ronaldo completed his treble and headed in a fourth before Jese and Gareth Bale, on his comeback, scored late on.
Ronaldo's efforts - which took him past 350 goals for Real Madrid and up to second in La Liga history with 252 - saw Real bounce back from losing to Atletico in their previous home game, a 1-0 defeat that virtually ended their hopes of catching Barcelona at the top of the table.
That led to some unrest in the Bernabeu and Celta, who were unbeaten in three games in their pursuit of a place in the Europa League, should have gone ahead when ex-Liverpool striker Aspas headed against a post.
But Pepe calmed things down as he nodded in his first goal of the season from an Isco corner.
Real were below full strength but overwhelmed Celta in the second half as they gave themselves the perfect preparation for the second leg of their Champions League last 16-tie, which they lead 2-0, at home to Roma on Tuesday night.
Ronaldo lashed in a dipping, 25-yard drive five minutes after the break before curling a superb free-kick into the top corner.
Aspas coolly lifted his 10th league goal of the season over Keylor Navas to make it 3-1, but Ronaldo then tapped in his third goal to claim his 36th hat-trick in Spanish football.
With Celta's defence struggling, Ronaldo headed in from a corner and Jese ran through to slot the sixth before Bale, back from a calf problem that has kept him out since mid-January, completed the rout with a run and low shot which went in off a post.
What they said
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane: "You know Cristiano, he is capable of scoring four goals and there are very few people capable of doing that. That is why he is unique.
"It is part of football that the fans whistle now and then.
"They are demanding fans, but at the same time they know their players well and always want more. That is good to help us improve and do more."
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Navas
- 15CarvajalSubstituted forMarceloat 77'minutes
- 4Ramos
- 3PepeBooked at 29mins
- 23DaniloBooked at 25mins
- 16Kovacic
- 14Casemiro
- 22IscoSubstituted forBaleat 65'minutes
- 18Vázquez
- 29Mayoral MoyaSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 70'minutes
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 2Varane
- 6Nacho
- 10Rodríguez
- 11Bale
- 12Marcelo
- 13Casilla
- 20Rodríguez Ruiz
Celta Vigo
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Blanco Veiga
- 19Castro OttoBooked at 59mins
- 2Mallo Novegil
- 20Gómez Solà
- 21Planas Antolínez
- 18WassSubstituted forBeauvueat 77'minutes
- 5Díaz
- 14Orellana ValenzuelaBooked at 85mins
- 8HernándezSubstituted forRadojaat 35'minutes
- 10NolitoBooked at 40mins
- 9Iago AspasSubstituted forGuidettiat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Álvarez Conde
- 6Radoja
- 7Bongonda Mbul'Ofeko Batombo
- 11Guidetti
- 12Beauvue
- 16Drazic
- 23Señé Escudero
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
- Attendance:
- 64,432
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away3
- Corners
- Home10
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1.
Post update
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
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Guidetti (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Orellana.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Hugo Mallo.
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Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danilo.
Post update
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Guidetti (Celta de Vigo).
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Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
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Offside, Celta de Vigo. Sergi Gómez tries a through ball, but Nolito is caught offside.
Booking
Orellana (Celta de Vigo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Orellana (Celta de Vigo).
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Attempt missed. Casemiro (Real Madrid) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
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Attempt saved. Claudio Beauvue (Celta de Vigo) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Guidetti.
Post update
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Pepe.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Casemiro.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 6, Celta de Vigo 1. Jesé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Claudio Beauvue replaces Daniel Wass.