Gareth Bale marked his return to the Real Madrid starting line-up by scoring after just nine minutes in a convincing 5-1 win over Rayo Vallecano that gave Carlo Ancelotti’s team their 13th straight victory. The Welshman, who also hit the crossbar in the second half, has seen Madrid win their last seven games as he recovered from a Gluteus injury and some supporters have made no secret of the desire to seem the team left unchanged but he came in for Isco on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu and helped Real to yet another comfortable win. Cristiano Ronaldo played Toni Kroos in behind the Rayo Vallecano defence and the German midfielder crossed from the left for Bale to swoop at the back post and convert the centre for the opener.
@highlight
Gareth Bale opens the scoring on nine minutes with a close range tap in
@highlight
Sergio Ramos made it 2-0 before half-time with a volley from a corner
@highlight
Alberto Bueno pulled one back for the visitors before half-time
@highlight
Rayo's Leonardo Baptistao has a goal ruled out for offside after the interval
@highlight
Moments later Toni Kroos makes it 3-1 with a beautiful low curled effort
@highlight
Karim Benzema made it 4-1 before the hour mark but looked offside
@highlight
Cristiano Ronaldo added a fifth in the closing stages of the match
@highlight
Real Madrid XI: Navas, Nacho, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Bale, Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Benzema
@highlight
Rayo Vallecano XI: Alvarez, Tito, Ze Castro, Ba, Insua, Fatau, Trashorras, Lica, Bueno, Kakuta, Baptistao
Navas hasn't had to make a save yet as @placeholder are starting to build some momentum.