Ronaldo/Bale Are Best Of Friends Again. Ready To Fight On

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were the best of friends again on Saturday night as Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano in torrential rain at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s early strike was all that separated the sides at the break, but Madrid cut loose in the second half with Bale netting his first goals in seven games while Daniel Carvajal and substitute Alvaro Morata were also on the mark.

As impressive as the win was it has been Real Madrid’s inability to beat their direct rivals that has cost them and with Atletico Madrid beating Athletic Bilbao they stayed top of La Liga.

The victory, which should have been even larger, keeps Madrid within three points of leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind Barca, both of whom won testing away matches on Saturday.

Madrid had chances to score more in the closing stages – and match the 6-0 win Barca inflicted on Rayo last month – but they had to settle for just the five as they ended a bad week on a more positive note.