Higuain nets Three
Gonzalo HiguaÃn scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid responded in style to their Champions League exit. Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as they swept past Real Valladolid 4-1 to stay level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Valladolid did start brightly and Haris Medunjanin had a weak shot blocked by Albiol before Carlos Lazaro fired wide of the left post from inside the area.
They had their goalkeeper, Justo Villar, to thank for keeping them on level terms in the 22nd minute, though, after a fine double save. He could do nothing, however, to stop Madrid taking the lead in the 27th minute. Ronaldo's 30-yard free-kick was well struck but the deflection it took off the top of the wall took it away from Villar and into the top corner.
Nivaldo was then lucky to escape punishment as he appeared to stamp on Ronaldo's shin after a tackle on the Portugal forward but Madrid doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Van der Vaart swung in a free-kick from the left and HiguaÃn side-footed in first time from around the six-yard line.
The Argentinian made it three seven minutes after the break, running on to a header from Ronaldo and calmly stroking the ball past Villar into the bottom right corner.
Valladolid were handed a possible way back into the match in the 58th minute when Casillas made a save only for the ball to bounce off the legs of Albiol and back into the net.
Any hopes of a fightback evaporated within seven minutes, however. A minute after Villar had brilliantly saved Ronaldo's shot with his feet, the former Manchester United player received a short corner from Van der Vaart and sent in a cross-shot that HiguaÃn turned in at the far post to complete his hat-trick.