A howler from James and Rayo pull one back. The Colombian's dreadful backpass is straight into the path of Leo Baptistao. He bides his time before squaring for Alberto Bueno, who rounds the keeper and taps home. A absolute gift.

Italian Serie A

Was last week's home defeat to Palermo a mere blip for Milan or a symptom of something more serious? We will soon find out.

It's not the prettiest goal, but they all count. A James Rodriguez corner from the right is glanced on to Sergio Ramos, who uses his thigh to conjure a looping effort into the far corner. That's the Spain defender's 50th goal for Real Madrid.

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Real Madrid have gone up a gear. James Rodriguez, who seems to deal exclusively in spectacular goals, draws a superb save from Alvarez. From the resultant corner, Benzema heads on to the top of the crossbar.

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vaishnav:, external Ronaldo is two levels ahead of everyone else, he has scored 9 La Liga games on the trot and Messi hasn't scored in three.

This isn't quite the free-flowing Real Madrid of recent weeks. A few tired legs from the Champions League in midweek? Gareth Bale shows some fleetness of foot to escape his marker down the right, but his flighted cross is beyond the reach of Ronaldo.

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Can you hear the drums Fernando? No? I'm not surprised.

Few will banging the drums where Torres is concerned after a pretty dismal start to life at Milan.

Things haven't started well for him since signing on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea in the summer, with just one goal in eight appearances.

He is on the bench today....

Half chance for Rayo. Baptistao gets his head on a fine cross from the right, but his angled effort slides past the post.

Italian Serie A

Sampdoria: Romero; De Silvestri, Gastaldello, Silvestre, Mesbah; Soriano, Obiang, Duncan; Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder

AC Milan: Diego Lopez; De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami, Bonera; Essien, De Jong, Bonaventura; Honda, Menez, El Shaarawy. Subs: Abbiati, Agazzi, Albertazzi, Armero, Zaccardo, Zapata, Poli, Saponara, Van Ginkel, Niang, Pazzini, Torres

Rayo are forced into an early change as Insua slips badly and appears to pull a muscle. Quini is his replacement.

Ooh, what a let-off for Rayo midfielder Mohammed Fatau. He tackles Ronaldo from behind as the Portuguese bears down on goal, but the referee does not give a free-kick. The Bernabeu faithful whistle in disapproval. It probably should have been a yellow card, not a red, because Insua would have come across to cover.

The rain is teeming down out in Madrid. Roberto Trashorras slides across the slick surface and takes out Rodriguez. He's lucky to escape a booking for that.

Rayo try their luck from range. Baptistão draws a save from Navas, who then pushes Bueno's effort away for a corner is less than convincing fashion.

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Another entry, another Ronaldo chance. Benzema and James Rodridguez work the ball to the Portuguese inside the area on the left, but his shot is high and wild.

Insua is comfortably Rayo's best player. Two crosses from the left cause problems. The first is blocked by Sergio Ramos at full stretch. The second is turned behind for a corner by Marcelo.

Is Gareth Bale right when he says Ronaldo is on a different planet to everyone else?

Adam Maxwell:, external Watching both Ronaldo and Messi over the last two years, Ronaldo has eclipsed Messi.

SaMmiiEE:, external Ronaldo is clearly on another level...his only competition hasn't been playing at his best leaving only Ronaldo at that level.

Rayo's response? Muted thus far. In all honesty, they are probably fearing the worst. Ronaldo is lurking menacingly as usual, unleashing another drive that Alvarez gathers.

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Like a warm knife through butter. Ronaldo feeds Toni Kroos down the left and the German's low cross is so inviting for Gareth Bale. The Welshman sticks out that famous left foot and taps in from three yards.

An early sighter for Rayo. Former Liverpool left-back Insua intercepts the ball in midfield and feeds Chelsea loanee Gael Kakuta, who drags his shot from distance wide.

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Real Madrid are already purring along like a well-oiled Harley-Davidson, with Modric catching the eye in midfield. Ronaldo fires in the first shot from the edge of the area, but it's straight at keeper Alvarez.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets us underway in the Bernabeu. The Portuguese has scored in his last nine league games; his best ever run in a Real Madrid shirt.