Player Ratings: Toni Kroos scores first goal for Real Madrid in Rayo rout

It was not all smiles, as Keylor Navas failed to make the most of a rare opportunity in goal, and his night was not helped by a kamikaze back pass from James Rodriguez that allowed Paco Jemez's side back into the game just before halftime. Madrid was emphatic on the resumption, however, as Ancelotti chalked up his 13th straight win as Madrid boss to move him closer to the record of 15 held jointly by Jose Mourinho and Miguel Muñoz.

Player Ratings (1-10; 10 is the best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

Keylor Navas, 5 -- Eyebrows were raised when Navas made his second league start since his summer switch from Levante, but Ancelotti said from the off that he would start his Costa Rican goalkeeper now and again.

With all respect to Rayo, the visit of Jemez's men offered the perfect opportunity to give Navas a runout, but he did not make the most of his opportunity. Although not at fault for the goal, the 27-year-old almost spilled Alberto Bueno's speculative shot into his own goal, and his communication with his defence was suspect throughout.

Nacho, 6 -- As with Navas, Nacho made his second league start, as he plugged the gap left by the injured Dani Carvajal and Alavaro Arbeloa. Given Rayo's ability to hold on to the ball, he had plenty of work to do but produced another steady performance and played as a more out-and-out right-back to Carvajal's marauding wing-back role.

Marcelo, 7 -- The Brazilian is enjoying an impressive run of form, and that continued Saturday. He had a tricky customer to deal with, in the shape of Chelsea loan man Gael Kakuta, but he kept him quiet for most of the night. He had an added importance in going forward, too, given Madrid's return to a more central 4-3-3 and complemented the attack, especially Cristiano Ronaldo out on the left, well.

Sergio Ramos, 8 -- The Spain international notched his 50th goal from 417 games when he prodded home a James Rodriguez corner five minutes before halftime. It is quite the tally for a defender, but Ramos was also strong and disciplined at the back throughout, against an opponent that likes to attack.

Pepe, 7 -- Back in the starting XI at the expense of Raphael Varane, Pepe made a solid case to be Ramos' regular center-back partner, following the Frenchman's impressive performances of his own. He suffered a nasty clash of heads but carried on and, a mix-up with his goalkeeper aside, provided stubborn opposition, as the Vallecas club looked for a way through a mostly tight back four.

Luka Modric, 8 -- The Croatian was the spark that pushed Madrid forward throughout, and he more than made up for the lack of a fourth man in Madrid's midfield. Modric carved out plenty of chances for his teammates and also had a few chances of his own to get on the scoresheet but could not take them.

Toni Kroos, 10 -- Kroos has been the man that has made Madrid tick all season, but he finally arrived with his shooting boots and scored his first Madrid goal in some fashion. The former Bayern Munich man has tried and failed from distance so far this season, but his first goal was a thing of beauty, as he tucked away a low effort that curled in between the post and Cristian Alvarez. He also provided the pin-point cross for Bale's opener, his sixth assist of the season, and made sure he was in useful positions for his teammates to pick him out throughout.

James Rodriguez, 6 -- The Colombian supplied two assists on the night, but unfortunately, one was at the wrong end. He provided the cross for Ramos' goal just before halftime but only minutes later had a rush of blood to the head, as his loose pass back to his goalkeeper fell at the feet of the Rayo attack, and Alberto Bueno tucked home to keep the visitors in the contest with the score being 2-1 at the time. He looked slightly below par throughout, and picking Isco from the start might have been the better option.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 9 -- Madrid's talisman showed off his European Golden Boot trophy before kick-off, and he ensured he added to his emphatic tally this season with his 18th goal in just 10 league appearances. He was given a helping hand, as Alvarez let his tame shot trickle through his arms, but the Portuguese also chipped in with two assists, one for Kroos and one for Benzema. He returned to a front three with Bale rejoining the starting eleven and linked well with the Welshman.

Karim Benzema, 8 -- The Frenchman's confidence is sky-high at the moment, and though he saw one header crash against the bar, he got his goal in the second half when Ronaldo put him in for his ninth goal in seven appearances. He tracked back well and worked for the team.