MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Gareth Bale took his tally to eight goals in his last seven games with a hat-trick as Real Madrid shrugged off the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to beat Valladolid 4-0.

With the Portuguese sidelined by a slight muscle strain, Bale proved to be decisive as he headed home the opener after Diego Marino could only parry Angel di Maria’s cross.

Three minutes later the Welshman teed up Karim Benzema to double Madrid’s lead with a wonderful in-swinging cross that the Frenchman bulleted home.

Bale grabbed his second of the game when Carlos Pena could only turn Marcelo’s cross into the path of the grateful former Tottenham man to slot home.

And Marcelo was again the provider as Bale completed his first hat-trick in Spanish football with a simple left-footed finish a minute from time.

Victory moved Real to within three points of leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who were also 2-0 victors over Elche on Saturday.

In Ronaldo’s absence, Di Maria was given a chance to start and he nearly had the hosts ahead inside five minutes as he smacked a shot off the underside of the bar.

Benzema then fired wide and Di Maria couldn’t beat Marino when played clean through on goal as Madrid pilled on the pressure.

And it finally told on 33 minutes when Di Maria burst down the left and his cross-come-shot was only parried by Marino into the path of Bale, who headed into the unguarded net.

Moments later Bale was the provider as his sumptuous cross left Benzema with an easy task to head home the second.

Madrid continued to dominate after the break and Bale made it three just after the hour mark when he steered home Marcelo’s cross on his weaker right foot.

And the 24-year-old was left with the easiest of finishes to round off a perfect hat-trick when he turned home Marcelo’s low cross with his left foot.