By Charlie Scott, Goal.com
An impressive performance after the break from Real Madrid saw Los Blancos romp to a 4-0 derby victory over Getafe in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu, with all four goals being scored in the second half including three by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his scintillating form with a well-taken hat trick in a 10-minute span that takes his tally in the league this season to 21. Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the home side that extended its unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho appeared to have one eye on the Copa del Rey semifinal against Barcelona this coming Wednesday as he rested some key players for this game, and it was only after Sami Khedira was introduced at halftime that his side clicked.
Following a scoreless first half in which Ronaldo looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch, and twice came close to scoring only to be thwarted by Getafe's goalkeeper Miguel Moya. Mourinho decided to change things up. Khedira came on for Raul Albiol, which resulted in Michael Essien dropping to right back and Sergio Ramos moving inside to center back.
The switch in personnel seemed to do the trick for the hosts, as they took the lead in the 53rd minute through Ramos. The Spain international bundled home a corner after Moya failed to claim the cross, with the Getafe goalkeeper undoing some brilliant work moments before when he made a fabulous double save on Khedira and Angel Di Maria.
Madrid then went 2-0 up thanks to a blistering counterattack that was clinically finished by Ronaldo. The FIFA Ballon d'Or runner-up hammered a shot low under Moya and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net having sprinted 70 yards to support Mesut Ozil and receive the ball on the edge of the Getafe box.
Within three minutes of that goal Ronaldo then added Madrid's third. The Portuguese attacker's 20th league goal of the season came in the form of a close-range header after Di Maria had dinked an inviting cross to the back post that pulled Moya out of position.
In the 72nd minute Ronaldo completed his hat trick from the penalty spot to make it 4-0, after Luka Modric had been fouled in the area by Alberto Lopo.
Madrid is now unbeaten in 22 matches at home in the league, but still trails Barcelona this season by 12 points, with the Blaugrana having a game in hand. The two rivals meet in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals in three days.
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