Madrid: Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid followed up its Copa del Rey victory with a 6-3 drubbing of third-place Valencia on Saturday.
Kaka scored twice and Karim Benzema also added to the tally as Madrid returned to Mestalla Stadium three days after hoisting its 18th domestic cup and first trophy in nearly three years with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Barcelona.
Madrid became the first visiting team to score six goals at the Mestalla and maintained pressure on Spanish leader Barcelona, which can restore its eight-point lead over Madrid in the standings with a victory against Osasuna later on Saturday. Five rounds remain after this weekend.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho opted for a team made up mostly of regular substitutes after Wednesday's grueling win over Barcelona. The Spanish rivals are playing four times in 18 days and meet again on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal match.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Ricardo Carvalho were the only holdovers in Madrid's starting 11 and Valencia's players adhered to tradition and honoured the cup champion with a passage of honour as the teams entered the field.
Madrid showed none of the bruising, physical play that carried it to victory over Barcelona as Benzema scored a deserved opener in the 23rd minute. The France striker patiently picked his spot between defender Markus Stankevisius and the near post after goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was caught out after failing to intercept Higuain's cross.
Higuain intercepted Jeremy Mathieu's nervous back pass to slide the ball under Guaita in the 31st and the Argentina striker found Kaka inside the box for the third in the 39th. Brazil playmaker Kaka returned the favour four minutes later as he spotted Higuain who scored his 10th league goal from a near identical play.
Kaka again found Higuain with a short pass in the 53rd as the Argentine secured his hat-trick and the Brazilian answered Roberto Soldado's goal on the hour mark with an individual effort in the 62nd.
Mourinho introduced regulars Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso late but with the game already out of reach, Valencia managed to improve the scoreline as Juanma Mata found Brazilian striker Jonas to slot home in the 80th before Jordi Alba added the host's third goal with five minutes left.
Madrid, which is 17 points better than Valencia, had the record for biggest victory at the Mestalla with a 5-1 victory during the 2007-08 season.
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