French international striker Karim Benzema scored a second half brace as Real Madrid defeated Tenerife 3-0 on Saturday for a fifth consecutive win which saw them move top of the Spanish league.
The 21-year-old Benzema, a 35-million-euro capture from Lyon, scored twice inside 11 minutes before Brazilian Kaka added a third to delight the Santiago Bernabeu crowd and maintain Real's perfect 15-point start to the season.
Real lead the standings, something they didn't manage to do at any stage last season, but champions Barcelona can replace them at the summit with victory at Malaga later on Saturday.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini paid tribute to substitutes Guti and Kaka for turning the game in Real's favour.
"It was a poor first half and the changes helped us in the second half," said Pellegrini. "Guti took control in our half and Kaka did it in our opponents' half of the pitch."
"We will lose at some stage but we know what direction we are heading in and the squad looks good."
Sevilla kept to within three points of Real in third thanks to a convincing 4-0 rout over 10-man Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
Sevilla scored three times in a destructive first half through Brazilian Renato (five minutes), Alvaro Negredo (30) and Frederic Kanoute (45) before Jesus Navas completed the scoring.
"It is a touch hasty to say that Real and Barcelona are the only two title challengers," said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez. "We will try to be a genuine rival for the league although we realise it is not going to be easy."
It was a historic day for Real captain Raul, now 32, as he became the club's all-time leading league appearance holder notching his 505th game against Tenerife to beat the previous record of Manolo Sanchis.
It was also a special day for brothers Xabi Alonso and Mikel Alonso who faced each other in an intriguing midfield battle.
Real playmaker Xabi Alonso began his career with elder brother Mikel at Real Sociedad but this was the first time they had come up against each other in a competitive match.
Portuguese centre-back Pepe returned for Real for his first league outing since April 21 when he was slapped with a ten-match ban for stamping on Francisco Casquero in a heated 3-2 derby win over Getafe.
Cristiano Ronaldo, already on five goals for the season, had scored in the first minute in each of Real's last two league wins but there was no early goal against Tenerife.
The Islanders had won their last match and clearly didn't come to make up the numbers and Real failed to find their stride.
Close to the half hour mark Raul almost scored on his historic day, but goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses was on hand to thwart the striker.
At half-time Real had yet to make a breakthrough but two minutes after the break Benzema latched onto a fine Alonso pass to head in.
Tenerife hit the crossbar through Nino and Real made them pay for the miss as Benzema struck again in the 58th minute after a pass from substitute Kaka.
The visitors also hit the post before Kaka scored for the second successive game to make it a flattering 3-0.
In Saturday's feature match Valencia host an out-of-sorts Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium.1
Atletico have yet to win this season with just one point to their name and coach Abel Resino is feeling the pressure.
Valencia lost out to Atletico last season in the Champions League race and will be out to kick one of their rivals while they are down.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
