And once again Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero for Jose Mourinho's side with a brilliant hat-trick.

Ronaldo put Real ahead just before the half-hour mark with a wonderful free-kick, but Atletico hit back on the hour mark with Radamel Falcao scoring.

But the home side were level for little over ten minutes as Ronaldo struck a brilliant second, before converting a penalty for his and Real's third not long after.

Substitute Jose Callejon added the fourth a couple of minutes from time to seal a comfortable win for the league leaders.

Valencia moved into third after a 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Mestalla.

Jonas opened the scoring just before the break, but they had to wait until 70 minutes to double their lead, with Jordi Alba on target.

Diego Costa pulled one back for Rayo just moments later - but their hopes of getting something from the game soon disappeared as Jonas added his second and Pablo Hernandez pounced in the final-minute to wrap up the win.

Levante missed the chance to move into fourth as they lost 3-2 at relegation threatened Sporting Gijon - who are now within four points of safety.

Levante started well with Valdo scoring after just 16-minutes, but Sporting levelled not long after through Oscar Trejo.

Arouna Kone restored Levante's lead on the hour, but Sporting battled back levelling through Alberto Lora and then winning it six-minutes from time through Gaston Sangoy.

Athletic Bilbao climbed into eighth but they were held to a 2-2 draw at Granada.

Jaime Romero put the home side ahead just two-minutes in, but he then turned villain as he was red-carded just before the break - but the resulting penalty was not converted by Fernando Llorente.

Granada then looked to have sealed the win as Alex Geijo doubled their lead on 73 minutes - but Bilbao battled back to claim an unlikely point.

Fernando Llorente pulled one back before Markel Susaeta levelled just two minutes from time.