Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational quadruple as Real Madrid knocked provisional leaders Barcelona off the top of the standings with a 6-1 home win over Racing Santander last night.

Ronaldo made it eight goals in his last three league matches with a best ever four goals as Real made it 16 goals in the same three outings to go a point ahead of defending champions Barcelona.

Earlier Barcelona had gone top with a 2-0 win at 10-man Real Zaragoza thanks to a brace from Lionel Messi as he made it four goals in as many days after scoring both goals in the midweek 2-0 Champions League win over Copenhagen.

“Leo is a goalscorer,” said Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

“Even though he doesn’t play as a central striker he has the goal on his mind and that’s why he scores the number of goals he does.”

However, Ronaldo topped Messi’s feat, scoring a first-half brace at the Santiago Bernabeu before adding another two in the second half to take his league tally to nine this season.

Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil were also on target as Real followed up 6-1 and 4-1 wins over Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga with another rout, leaving Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten side with a perfect four league wins at the Bernabeu.

Messi had put Barca ahead on 42 minutes and Zaragoza pressed the self-destruct button when Argentine midfielder Leonardo Ponzio was sent off two minutes after the break for an off-the-ball incident with Dani Alves.

Messi grabbed his second on 66 minutes with a fierce left-footed shot and Barcelona eased to a comfortable win.