Real Madrid 3-0 Levante: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes hosts' all-time top goalscorer as Rafa Benitez's side record easy victory

• Real Madrid left back Marcelo gave them the lead on 27 minutes with a low left-footed shot against Levante
• Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the Spanish giants' advantage just three minutes later
• The goal meant Ronaldo surpassed Raul's record of 323 career goals for the 10-time European Cup winners

By Rik Sharma For Mailonline

Published: 10:52 EST, 17 October 2015 | Updated: 13:38 EST, 20 October 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't like to be upstaged. Raul's name was ringing around the Santiago Bernabeu after the legendary forward revealed he would be retiring from football at the end of the season, so of course Ronaldo picked this moment to finally break his all-time goals record.

Although Madrid and Ronaldo himself claim he managed it a fortnight ago, in the Champions League against Malmo, the record books will show it was here that he struck his 324th goal for the club, in his 310th game. It took Raul 741 games to hit 323, emphasising what an incredible feat Ronaldo has accomplished.

By contrast, this was not a good day for Gareth Bale, who was taken off at half-time, presumably to rest him ahead of the midweek clash with Paris Saint-Germain, after he played in both of Wales' international games.

Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer during their 3-0 La Liga win over Levante on Saturday

Ronaldo scored his 324th goal for the Spanish giants, doubling their lead at the Santiago Bernabeu

The 30-year-old superstar watches on as his ferocious strike flies towards Levante goalkeeper Ruben Ivan Martínez's net

Real's talisman is congratulated by his team-mates after going past Raul's long-standing goalscoring record

He spooned a half-volley well over the bar in the first half, albeit from a difficult position, and offered little else before he was replaced.

Levante boss Lucas Alcaraz used a 4-4-2, taking cues from Malaga's recent efforts at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Andalusians had left with a hard-earned point, which could have been trebled if they were more clinical on the break.

Despite Real's decent start to the season, which saw them start the weekend in second place, behind Villarreal, there are some flaws which Rafa Benitez needs to work out.

What looks in good shape is the defence, with Madrid entering the clash having only shipped two goals all season, across nine games. This is their best defensive start to a La Liga season since 1997.

However, their biggest problem at the moment is injury. Madrid had seven players out for this clash, many of them key first-teamers.

Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Arbeloa missed the game, with the bench full of youngsters like Borja Mayoral and Philipp Lienhart. Infact, every single substitute was a product of the Madrid academy.

One of them, Marcos Llorente - grandson of former Madrid great Paco Gente - was introduced in the second half, making his debut at 20 years old. Although Benitez's hand was forced by the injuries, Madrid fans are finally getting to see what some of their youth products can do.

The good news for Los Blancos was the return of Bale, starting for the first time in a month, after he returned from a calf injury sustained in mid-September, and of Danilo after a foot problem.

Ramos' continued injury woes meant Marcelo wore the armband and he put in a captain's performance in the first half, driving forward from left back and opening the scoring. 

Prior to the match Ronaldo was presented with the Golden Shoe after finishing as Europe's top goalscorer last season

The Portugal international kisses the award given to him after scoring 48 goals in the Spanish top flight during the previous campaign 

Real's No 7 gives a thumbs to the Bernabeu faithful and team-mates who applaud him for his feat

Marcelo robbed the napping Jose Luis Morales high up the pitch, exchanged passes with Ronaldo and then lashed the ball past Ruben Martinez as he burst into the box.

The goal came in the 27th minute, precisely one minute after Levante should have opened the scoring themselves. A looping cross from the right fell perfectly for Deyverson at the back post, but he fluffed his lines and Keylor Navas pounced on the loose ball.

That is the margin between victory and defeat at the Bernabeu for visitors. You will get just a few chances and if you spurn them you will be punished - and this was the case for the second goal too.

Three minutes after Marcelo's opener, Ronaldo struck, ending a run of four La Liga matches without a goal, and finally taking Raul's record - officially, even though he and Madrid already considered it broken. 

Levante forward Deyverson (left) runs with the ball as the visitors look to start an attack against their illustrious opponents

Marcelo celebrates after the left back gives Real a 1-0 lead against Levante in the first half of Saturday's encounter

The 27-year-old (right) gave Rafa Benitez's side the lead midway through the first half with a low left-footed shot

The Brazilian defender is hugged by Ronaldo as the Levante players cut crestfallen figures after conceding the opening goal

But beforehand Deyverson had another fine opportunity, but saw the outstanding Navas tip away his header at full stretch. It was an awful afternoon for the Levante forward, who was taken off with an injury in the second half.

Ronaldo's strike, low and vicious, from outside the box, was more of a throwback to his older style, whereas most of his strikes these days are poachers' efforts from inside the area - or the penalty spot.

He had claimed an early spot kick but the referee ignored his cries after Simao had bumped into him in the box, with the Portuguese going down too easily.

After his strike Madrid had their cushion and didn't press for more, which led to some Levante pressure and more opportunities for Costa Rican stopper Navas to impress against his former side.

Gareth Bale (right) controls the ball as Real go in search for another goal during Saturday's La Liga encounter

The match was the Welshman's first start for Real in a month after he returned from a calf injury sustained in mid-September

Real forward Jese runs away in celebration after coming off the bench to score his side's third goal on 81 minutes

Jese, desperate to impress as a substitute, took things into his own hands and shimmied beautifully past Simao before lashing the third goal home at the near post, to put a gloss on the scoreline.

Benitez was conscious of Madrid's trip to Paris in midweek to face PSG, the first of several tough clashes in the upcoming month for his side.

They have a difficult course to negotiate ahead of the Clasico in November, with trips to Sevilla and Celta Vigo potential pitfalls for the title contenders.

This match, the first of six in 22 days, was the calm before the storm. And the signs are that a storm is brewing.

Benitez will hope he can harness the energy and friction between Bale and Ronaldo, provoked by the Welshman's agent's latest comments, and use it to power the team through what promises to be a tricky schedule.

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