Liga Report: Five-Star Real Madrid Move Second

Real Madrid put their European woes behind them to thrash Malaga 5-1 at the Bernabeu and go second.

Fernando Morientes (2), Raul (2) and Roberto Carlos were the men on target, with Manu scoring a consolation for Malaga.

After the visitors had created a couple of good early openings, Real took the lead on four minutes when Luis Figo passed to Morientes who curled low into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box, after a good run from Zinedine Zidane.

And on 14 minutes it was 2-0 when the impressive Guti slipped in Raul who looked distinctly offside. Malaga didn't get the decision, and the Real striker comfortably beat Contreras.

Four minutes later Carlos rocketed the ball into the roof of the net when it fell to him inside the box. A fantastic finish from the Brazilian.

Morientes then headed over Carlos' left wing cross, before Malaga had a chance of their own on the half-hour mark, but Kiki Musampa couldn't keep his shot down when in front of Iker Casillas' goal.

The last incident of the first-half saw Ivan Helguera glide a header wide.

Malaga greatly improved after the interval, and Gerardo shot straight at Casillas.

On 53 minutes, Fernando Sanz superbly blocked Morientes' shot, before Raul chipped over the bar.

But seconds later it was 4-0 when Raul crossed for Morientes to convert after Malaga had given the ball away.

Just after the hour mark, a misplaced pass in the Real defence enabled Manu to expertly beat Casillas. It was a goal that Malaga deserved for their second-half endeavour.

On 77 minutes Raul scored his second of the game after collecting an excellent pass from Guti and beating Contreras who had come out to meet him.

The Malaga keeper then dived to prevent Morientes from scoring his hat-trick, but all in all it was an impressive response from Real after their midweek Champions Leaguer exit to Juventus.