ristiano Ronaldo scored a ten-minute hat-trick as Real Madrid destroyed Getafe with a ruthless second half display.Real opened the scoring when Sergio Ramos bundled in after Getafe claimed Ricardo Carvalho had fouled goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya.
Ronaldo finished a counter-attack for his first goal, headed in Angel di Maria’s cross for his second and completed his hat-trick from the spot after Luka Modric was fouled by Alberto Lopo.
As well as helping Real cruise to victory, Ronaldo’s haul took him to over 300 goals in his club career.
The Portuguese, who was substituted with around 15 minutes left after a knock to his right ankle, scored five for Sporting, 118 for Manchester United and now has 179 for Real thanks to his 20th career treble.
Jose Mourinho made six changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Valencia on Wednesday, and his side looked short of rhythm in an unremarkable first half.
Real dominated the early exchances without creating many chances of note, with Mesut Ozil coming closest to scoring when he finished a counter-attack he started – but he could only send a low shot straight at Moya.
Getafe showed occasional moments of attacking quality, but the closest they came was a tame header by Diego Castro which was straight at Antonio Adan, who is filling in for the injured Iker Casillas.
Real stepped things up in the second half and soon put their noses in front when Ramos took full advantage from close range, but Getafe’s protests that Carvalho impeded Moya were ignored.
Real cut Getafe open with a slick counter attack for the second goal. Ozil spotted Ronaldo on the overlap, and the Portuguese finished neatly into the far bottom corner.
Ronaldo scored his second just two minutes later, powering in a free header after Di Maria had clipped a teasing ball to the far post.
The rout was complete when Ronaldo converted from the spot after Lopo’s clumsy nudge on Modric was spotted by the referee, allowing the striker to complete a swift hat-trick and ensure Los Blancos close to within four points of second-placed Atletico Madrid – at least temporarily.
Real have 43 points from 21 of 38 matches, with Atletico on 47 ahead of their match at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening when they will be without injured top scorer Radamel Falcao.
Leaders Barcelona, who play at Real in their King’s Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday, are looking to get back to winning ways when they host struggling Osasuna.
Tito Vilanova’s side lost their unbeaten record and dropped points for only the second time this season when they suffered a 3-2 reverse at Real Sociedad last weekend but still have an eight-point lead over Atletico.
Getafe, who beat Real 2-1 at their Coliseum stadium earlier in the season but whose form has dipped in recent weeks, are 11th on 26 points.
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