BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Karim Benzema ensured Real Madrid kept the pressure on the Spanish league’s front-runners by scoring one goal and assisting on two more in a 5-1 win at bottom-side Getafe.
Benzema scored his 22nd goal of the competition in the 29th minute Saturday and worked a one-two passing combination to help Francisco “Isco” Alarcon make it 2-0 in the 40th.
Gareth Bale ran free to score Madrid’s third after receiving Benzema’s pass five minutes after halftime.
Pablo Sarabia got Getafe’s consolation goal with six minutes left before James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off Madrid’s win.
Madrid, which earlier this week advanced to a Champions League semifinal against Manchester City, provisionally passed Atletico Madrid into second place and moved to within one point of leader Barcelona.