BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 at home without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo to ensure they remained top of the Spanish football league on Saturday.
Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo headed in his first goal for the Basque club 36 seconds into the match, but James Rodriguez headed the hosts level in the third minute, and Madrid never looked back.
Sergio Ramos scored before half-time, and Benzema made it 3-1 soon after the break before he struck an exquisite second goal in the 76th.
Ronaldo watched from the stands at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as he served the first of a two-game ban for kicking a Cordoba player in the last round.
Madrid opened a four-point gap over Barcelona, which host Villarreal on Sunday. Madrid also have a game in hand that they will play against Sevilla on Wednesday.
Third-place Atletico Madrid provisionally pulled level on points with Barcelona after Mario Mandzukic also grabbed a brace of early goals in their 3-1 victory at Eibar.
Granada beat Elche 1-0, while Cordoba played at Celta Vigo in the late game.
