The result provides huge relief to head coach Zinedine Zidane, who has now overseen two straight wins since facing criticism for the derby defeat by Atletico Madrid – a team who now sit just one point clear in second spot ahead of their game against Valencia on Sunday.
Madrid were boosted ahead of kick-off as Bale returned to the substitutes’ bench, having been out since January with a calf injury, while Marcelo sat alongside him after missing the last two matches with a similar issue.
Los Blancos offered no mercy to their visitors as they exploded into life after the break, the Portuguese superstar scoring four while Pepe, Jese and Gareth Bale also on target.
Real Madrid tore apart Celta Vigo, thanks in large part to a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, as they made an explosive continuation to their efforts to repair their Primera Division title challenge with a 7-1 triumph.
