Madrid thump Gijon

Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid put aside worries over a transfer ban by beating Sporting Gijon - but Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema picked up injuries.

Madrid were 4-0 up after 18 minutes, with Bale heading in the first and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring two, one either side of a Benzema volley.

The France forward ran in a fifth before the break, but both he and Bale later limped off.

Isma Lopez scored his first La Liga goal for Sporting after half-time.

Real Madrid were seeking a boost on the field after being handed a transfer ban by FIFA last Thursday, for breaching rules regarding the signing of foreign players aged under 18.

They got it, as their front three - known as the BBC, because they consist of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano - were unplayable at times during a dominant first-half display.

Bale glanced in Toni Kroos' near-post corner for his 11th goal in eight matches amid ropey marking, before Ronaldo lashed in a second.

Benzema's acrobatic volley from Bale's cross made it three, and he added a fifth from Isco's scooped pass after Ronaldo had slotted in from the excellent Dani Carvajal's low cross. —BBC