Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo paraded his fourth Ballon d'Or and powered home his first goal of 2017 as Real Madrid equalled Barcelona's Spanish record 39-game unbeaten run with a 5-0 demolition of lowly Granada on Saturday.
Isco and Karim Benzema slotted home from close range before Ronaldo, who had been rested for Real's 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Sevilla in midweek, bulleted home a header from Marcelo's cross.
Another simple finish from Isco made it four before the break and Casemiro turned home James Rodriguez's free-kick for the fifth after half-time.
Defeat leaves Granada firmly rooted in the relegation zone with just nine points from 17 games.
At the top, Barca can close back to within three points of the leaders with victory at Villarreal on Sunday.
Once again Zidane was vindicated as all three of the frontline scored in a rapid start.
The hosts got a break for the opener as Isco could have been penalised for a trip on Sergi Samper before he exchanged passes with Benzema and slotted low past Guillermo Ochoa.
And with the Granada defence once again pulled apart by Madrid's movement, Modric's low cross found an unmarked Isco for a simple finish at the back post for his second of the afternoon.
Madrid understandably eased off in the second half with the possibility of another 19 games to come in the next two months as Toni Kroos, Isco and Marcelo were replaced to hand them some extra rest.
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