When Jose Mourinho took his Real Madrid side to sixth-placed Osasuna in the closing stages of the 2011-12 campaign, it was viewed as one of the most difficult of their remaining La Liga fixtures.

Yet with Cristiano Ronaldo in top form three years ago today, title-chasing Los Blancos made a mockery of that viewpoint.

The encounter in Pamplona was just seven minutes old when the deadlock was broken by the away side.

A swift stepover sent Ronaldo to the left byline, from where he sent over a cross towards the back post. It was inch perfect for Karim Benzema, who powered a volley into the far corner of Andres Fernandez's net.

Thirty minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors as Ronaldo turned goalscorer. From 40 yards out, the Portuguese attacker generated enough force in his shot to beat Fernandez.

Before the half was out, Gonzalo Higuain added a third with a neat chipped finish as Madrid went into the break completely in command of proceedings.

A back-post header from Nino reduced the arrears four minutes after the restart, but a deflected strike from Ronaldo 20 minutes from time restored the three-goal margin.

It was his 37th goal of the season, which took him one clear of Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi in the race for the Pichichi.

The scoring was completed in the 77th minute by Higuain, who darted towards the near post to turn in another Ronaldo cross.

As the match drew to a close the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Roland Lamah was handed his marching orders, but the damage had already been done.

It was a result that kept Madrid six points clear of rivals Barca at the top of the table with eight matches left to play.

OSASUNA: Fernandez; Flano, Sergio, Damia, Roversio; Nekounam, Punal, Loe, Cejudo; Martinez, Garcia

MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Arbeloa, Marcelo; Alonso, Granero, Ozil, Ronaldo; Higuain, Benzema