36 goals in La Liga: Ronaldo scores five as Real destroy Granada

Cristiano Ronaldo stole a march on Lionel Messi in the race for the Pichichi by scoring five - including an eight-minute hat-trick - in an incredible 9-1 rout of Granada.

The Portugal star has scored 36 league goals this season while Messi is on 32.

Carlo Ancelotti's side had to wait until the 25th minute to take the lead through Gareth Bale, but the opener only opened the floodgates as Ronaldo scored a hat-trick before half-time to give Real a 4-0 lead. And Los Blancos continued with such gusto after the break, with Ronaldo adding another and Karim Benzema bagging a double saw them seven to the good with 56 on the clock.

Double figures looked to be on the cards, as La Liga's second-bottom side crumbled all over the pitch, but a number of changes saw the flow of the contest stemmed.

Granada grabbed a consolation goal before a Diego Mainz own goal and another Ronaldo goal gave Real Madrid a sensational 9-1 win - the biggest margin of victory in La Liga this season.

Pichichi race
1 Cristiano Ronaldo 36 Real Madrid
2 Lionel Messi 32 FC Barcelona
3 Carlos Bacca 17 Sevilla FC
3 Neymar 17 FC Barcelona
5 Alberto Bueno 16 Rayo Vallecano
6 Antoine Griezmann 15 Atlético Madrid
6 Karim Benzema 15 Real Madrid
8 Gareth Bale 13 Real Madrid
9 Mario Mandzukic 12 Atlético Madrid
9 Luciano Vietto 12 Villarreal CF
11 Ad ú riz 11 Athletic Club
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Story by Ghana/Joy Sports/Gary Al-Smith