Real Madrid open 8 point lead

Real Madrid provided the perfect response to their defeat to Almeria with an outstanding 7-0 victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday evening to put themselves eight points clear at the top of the table.

Robinho limped off after only 15 minutes, but from there onwards it was all positive news for Real Madrid. It was even better than Arjen Robben grabbed his first goal for the Madrid giants.

Julio Baptista opened the scoring in the ninth minute on a superb pass from Arjen Robben. He looks a different player from his time at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger may be wishing he'd kept hold of the Brazilian.

The hosts then turned on their A-Game at the Estadio Bernabeu by scoring four more goals in a remarkable 15-minute onslaught before half time. Two of them were put away by Raul - one from the penalty spot - and the others by Robben and Guti. It was Robben's first for the club and he really deserved it as he showed why the club paid so much to sign him from Chelsea during the summer.

The second half saw Real Madrid ease off a little. But it wasn't going to stop the Whites showing their talent.

Guti made it 6-0 with a left-footed shot in the 62nd minute. Royston Drenthe completed the rout with a seventh goal 10 minutes from time.

Real Madrid now look well positioned to secure their 31st Primera Liga championship.