Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after thrashing city rivals Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The home side bounced back from their shock defeat by Real Betis eight days earlier by racing into a three-goal lead inside the opening 35 minutes, making it four wins from their opening five matches of the new campaign.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute when he sent Rayo goalkeeper Emil Audero the wrong way from the penalty spot after Alvaro Carreras was fouled inside the area.
The Frenchman, who earlier in the week said this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d’Or, returned the favour to Carreras three minutes later by setting up the left-back to slam home and double his side’s advantage.
England international Jude Bellingham added Real’s third 10 minutes before half-time, side-footing Vinicius Jr’s cut-back into the net at the end of a sweeping move.
Mbappe was denied a second goal of the night, and a sixth of the La Liga campaign, in first-half stoppage time when he rattled the woodwork with a fierce effort.
Although the visitors pulled one back early in the second half through Sergio Camello, it was Real who had the final say in stoppage time when Mbappe fired low and hard into the far corner to ensure Real made it 14 wins from their last 15 home meetings with Vallecano.
Barcelona can re-establish a three-point lead over Real if they beat Levante on Sunday (15:15 BST).
