A day after league rivals FC Barcelona embarrassed perennial top club Atletico de Madrid, the spotlight was on Real Madrid to answer if they wished to stay atop the table. Forty seconds after kick-off Real had their response. Ronaldo's double accompanied by a late surge from the home side allowed Real to remain even with Barca and more importantly, continue their unblemished start to the season, on nine points after three matches.

Within seconds of the starting whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo took control of a loose ball and skillfully maneuvered his way through the Xerez defence and brilliantly struck home to put Pellegrini's side in control early. If it were not for the excellent play of Renan in net for Xerez, the match could have gotten out of hand very quickly. The Andalusia side, who are marking their first campaign in the top flight of Spanish football this season, were immensely out played early.

Nevertheless, trailing by only one goal for most of the contest, Xerez were able to threaten the Madrid net a few times. The Brazilian international's keeping surely kept the game within sight for Xerez; however, an onslaught in the last fifteen put the game out of reach and elevated Madrid to victory. But for the seventy-four minutes after Ronaldo put Los Blancos ahead, Real were unable to finish, keeping the supporters at the Bernabeu on edge.

An hour and a quarter after he had put Real in the lead, Ronaldo headed home a corner kick to double the home side's advantage. Guti, who came on for Kaka, would clean up a failed Benzema attempt at goal to put the game out of reach only a few minutes later. Benzema would then redeem himself as some impressive moves beat his defender and the French international fired home, marking his first competitive league goal. A six-minute period that saw Madrid increase their lead from 1-0 to 4-0 sealed three points for Los Blancos.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute for Ronaldo, netted the fifth and final goal of the game. His exclamation point on a win that saw his return to competitive play may have come at a cost. Canal Plus reported that van Nistelrooy may have injured his left quadriceps during the goal and Madrid's doctors were examining him after the game. While losing a veteran presence is never a positive, Real have emphatically shown throughout this young campaign that depth is not an issue.

Sergio Ramos returned to the starting line-up after missing the opening of the season due to injury. His presence helped to bolster a back line that had shown signs of weakness and lack of form up until this point. The Spanish international not only contributed to a nearly flawless defensive effort, but the Spaniard also reaffirmed his menace from set pieces as a brilliant save from Renan was the only thing between Ramos' header and an early two goal advantage for Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo remained on form as the Portuguese star netted his second double over the past two games. With four goals in the first three league matches and scoring the aforementioned double in Madrid's first Champions League game this past Tuesday, Ronaldo has silenced the critics that were sure to arise if he was not on form early after a large summer transfer from Manchester United. If he continues to play at this level and help bring trophies to the Bernabeu, it will surely have been money well spent.