Almeria 0 Real Madrid 5: Happy couple Bale and Ronaldo both score in romp... but Portugal ace has to come off in injury scare

Kings of Spain: Real Madrid's Ronaldo is also hoping to make a claim to be named the world's best player

Still going: Real are trying to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of La Liga

Worry: Ronaldo had to leave the pitch due to a hamstring scare, but Carlo Ancelotti tried to allay fears

Almeria made the goals smaller ahead of their meeting but it didn’t stop Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both scoring.

They had to dismantle their goals before the start because they were six centimetres higher than league regulations allow.

A hurried reconstruction took place in both goalmouths at the Mediterranean Games Stadium to ensure the game could kick-off on time and a grateful Ronaldo scored in just two minutes 41 seconds turning in Isco’s cross to make it 67 goals this calendar league.

The goal saw him draw level with Hugo Sanchez on 164 league goals and leave him joint fourth in the all-time club scoring list but it was not all good news for the new Ballon d’Or favourite as he hobbled off with a hamstring problem in the second half.

No sooner had Ronaldo disappeared straight down the tunnel on 53 minutes when Gareth Bale had the perfect chance to finish Almeria off but he skied his shot from inside the six-yard box from Dani Carvajal’s cross.

Simple finish: Bale scored the third for Madrid and his fifth in Real colours

Pace and power: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo skips past Almeria's Jesus Joaquin Fernandez

Karim Benzema then made amends when played in by Jese to score his seventh goal of the season and Real Madrid’s second of the night from the edge of the area.

Bale then scored the third from Isco’s pass making it another good night for what the Spanish refer to as the BBC – Bale, Benzema and Cristiano. Isco made it four and substitute Alvaro Morata added the fifth.

Bale had almost scored from inside the centre-circle in the first half when Almeria keeper Esteban headed clear under pressure from Ronaldo and the Wales international took the clearance down on his chest and volleyed it over the home-side’s keeper's head but not under the bar.

In the goals: Xabi Alonso congratulates Ronaldo after the Portugal man scored

Wizard: Bale takes a tumble as Real go on search for another goal

Madrid did not have it all their own way. Aleix Vidal and Rodri both had shots saved in the first half and in the second period on-loan Liverpool winger Suso went close. He had overslept in midweek and missed training but was forgiven and allowed to play in Almeria’s biggest game of the season and he went close with a curling shot just past Diego Lopez’ far post.

But Almeria were blown away by the power of Real Madrid’s forward line and ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League group game against Roberto Mancini’s Galatasaray the good news was that Ronaldo’s injury is nothing more than a knock on the hamstring which is unlikely to keep him out of action.

Tricky player: Real midfielder Isco gets past Almeria's Verza

Another: Karim Benzema scored Real's second in there easy win