Highlights: Cristiano Ronaldo scores 4 goals to help Real Madrid beat Elche 5-1

Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals in the match

Real Madrid beat Elche 5-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring four goals on Tuesday night.

This was Ronaldo’s 21st hat-trick in La Liga (25th in all competitions) and brings his tally to seven goals in four days after scoring three against Deportivo in the 8-2 win.

Elche had initially taken the lead before Gareth Bale scored the equalizer. The win now takes them to fourth spot in the La Liga table having played one game more than the next five teams who can catch up.

The win also put them three points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona who also have a game in hand.

Elche, meanwhile, dropped to 14th in the table.

Real Madrid 0-1 Elche: Albacar (15’)

Albacar scored from the penalty spot after Pedro Mosquera was judged to have been fouled by Ronaldo in the box. Keylor Navas dived the right way but the spot kick was an unstoppable shot into the top corner

Real Madrid 1-1 Elche: Bale (20’)

Five minutes later, Gareth Bale then equalized with a glancing header from the centre of the box to level the score at 1-1.

Real Madrid 2-1 Elche: Ronaldo (28’ Penalty)

This time, Mosquera appeared to foul Marcelo in the box to concede a penalty. But replays show that he may have dived to win the spot kick which Ronaldo put away with ease as the goalkeeper went the wrong way.

Real Madrid 3-1 Elche: Ronaldo (32’)

Ronaldo then scored four minutes later with a header after he rose above the defence to nod home from near the penalty spot after Marcelo whipped in a cross from the left flank.

Real Madrid 4-1 Elche: Ronaldo (80’ Penalty)

Elche’s Mario Pasalic then fouled Ronaldo in the box and he stepped up to complete his hat-trick with a powerful shot into the left corner, in spite of the goalkeeper diving the right way.

Real Madrid 5-1 Elche: Ronaldo (92’)

Ronaldo then scored his fourth goal from a Gareth Bale assisted through ball that found him in the centre of the box. All the Portuguese star had to do was toe-poke i past the goalkeeper.