MADRID – La Liga defending champion Real Madrid hammered Sevilla 5-0 on Saturday in the 15th round of the Spanish league.

Nacho Fernandez gave the hosts an early lead with a goal just three minutes into the match at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead 20 minutes later.

Cristiano, who won his fifth Ballon d’Or award on Thursday, struck again when he converted a penalty in the 31st minute.

Toni Kroos added the fourth goal for Real Madrid seven minutes later.

Achraf Hakimi scored the fifth goal for the Blancos three minutes before the end of a remarkably lopsided first half.

Sevilla managed to stanch the bleeding after the intermission, holding the host side scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

With the home win, Real Madrid is provisionally in the third position with 31 points, although fourth-placed Atletico Madrid (30 place) can regain that spot with an away win against Real Betis on Sunday.

Sevilla holds the fifth place with 28 points.

In the same round, both Getafe and Eibar got one point after playing to a goalless draw on Saturday.

Unbeaten FC Barcelona, which is set to visit Villarreal on Sunday, leads La Liga with 36 points, five ahead of second-placed Valencia.