Real Madrid vs. Eibar: Score, Reaction from 2016 La Liga Match

Real Madrid provided the perfect response following their shock defeat to Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League by beating Eibar 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, moving to within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Los Blancos also leapfrogged capital-city rivals Atletico Madrid into second place. But Real still face an uphill battle to win the title since both Barca and Atleti have a game in hand.

James Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese put Madrid four up at the break. Los Merengues didn't need any more goals and played out the second half at a pedestrian pace.

For Ronaldo, his goals marked a few milestones, including cementing his lead in the race for the Pichichi, the top scorer in Spain's top flight.

Kiko Casilla replaced Keylor Navas in goal, while Jese and Vazquez came in for Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema up front. This starting XI made it clear manager Zinedine Zidane already has one eye on Tuesday's quarter-final second leg against Wolfsburg, per the club:

Meanwhile, Eibar's intent was clear when they left top scorer Borja Baston on the bench, per Sky Sports.

It took less than five minutes for Madrid to go in front via a sweetly struck James free-kick. The Colombian craftily guided a low shot around the Eibar wall.

Just before the 20-minute mark, Isco and Ronaldo exchanged passes and the latter rolled the ball across for winger Vazquez to wrap up the move. Barely two minutes after that finish, Ronaldo tapped home thanks to selfless work from Jese.

The goal put Ronaldo atop the league's scoring charts, per Squawka:

Finding the net 30 times in league action has become a common achievement for Madrid's No. 7, as Sky Sports Statto noted:

The same combination was reversed with six minutes left in the half, when Ronaldo turned provider for Jese to bag Los Blancos' fourth.

As WhoScored.com pointed out, Ronaldo's creative output is very strong this season:

Eibar finally threw Baston into the mix after the break, but the visitors still couldn't muster many chances. All that was left was for Madrid to play a comfortable, controlled game, keeping the ball and not exerting too much energy before their midweek European duty.

The only interruption to Madrid's serenity came with 10 minutes remaining when Baston should have scored from a close-range header. But that was the only notable goal-mouth action for the visitors before the full-time whistle.

Post-Match Reaction

Eibar boss Jose Luis Mendilibar chided his side's dire first-half performance, per Sid Lowe of the Guardian:

Meanwhile, Zidane is already anticipating the challenge awaiting his side in Europe's premier club competition:

A comprehensive win is the ideal preparation for Zidane and his squad ahead of their tough task in Europe. But beating up another mid-table side at home isn't the most convincing evidence Madrid have really turned a corner on the Frenchman's watch.