Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo limped off the field late on with an apparent hamstring issue as the home side accounted for Villarreal 3-0 in La Liga, to keep pace with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the title race.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring late in the first half, netting for the fourth league game in a row, before further strikes from Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric made it a comfortable victory in the second period.
Ronaldo left the field in stoppage time in apparent discomfort to spark injury fears on an otherwise positive evening for Madrid at the Bernabeu - an eighth win in succession in the league.
After holding the back of his right leg, Ronaldo walked from the field and sat on the bench, with Madrid having used all three substitutes.
Any injury to the Portuguese superstar would come as a major blow to Zinedine Zidane's side, who are just a point behind Barca and Atletico with four games to go and have a UEFA Champions League semi-final to come against Manchester City.
Hover, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was quick to play down any fears.
"Cristiano felt something at the end. He went off because he wanted to know what it was. It looks like more of a scare than anything else," Zidane said.
"We will have to see tomorrow, but I'm relaxed now. We are concerned, but after seeing him in the dressing room I am less worried.
"He is relaxed. It doesn't look like anything serious. We will see tomorrow exactly what he has.
"A player like Cristiano, sometimes he should rest, not finish a game, or sit it out. But he always wants to be out on the pitch.
"Sometimes, for me, today when I see him coming off pitch, it's difficult. There are important games to come, we'll see when he's back."
Villarreal, who are into the last four of the Europa League, will hope to join Madrid in Europe's premier club competition next season - Marcelino's side occupy the final qualification berth with a six-point gap to fifth-placed Athletic despite a second consecutive defeat.
The recalled Sergio Asenjo was forced into routine saves from Benzema and Ronaldo in the opening 10 minutes, but, just as frustrations began to mount inside the Bernabeu, the fans were on their feet in the 41st minute as Benzema made the breakthrough.
Ronaldo surged towards the left byline and his driven cross was parried by Asenjo, the ball falling perfectly for Benzema to nod into the unguarded goal from eight yards.
Villarreal almost conjured an immediate riposte as Keylor Navas produced an impressive stop to deny Denis Suarez, who had Cedric Bakambu unmarked to his left waiting for a tap-in.
The home side began the second period with greater urgency than they had the first and Ronaldo was furious with himself for sending a free header over from Toni Kroos' corner.
Modric - one of five changes from the Getafe game - curled narrowly wide shortly afterwards, but Madrid doubled their lead in the 69th minute as Vazquez exchanged passes with Benzema and burst into the box before rifling a low finish beyond Asenjo at the near post for Madrid's 100th league goal of the campaign.
Seven minutes later Modric added his name to the scoresheet, sliding in to steer a superb volley from Danilo's right-wing cross into the bottom-right corner.
Opta stats:
- Madrid are the only side to have scored 100+ goals in seven consecutive La Liga seasons (101 in 15-16).
- Benzema has scored more first goals than any other player in La Liga this season (11).
- Modric has scored his first goal from inside the box in La Liga (seven overall).
- Madrid have won eight La Liga games in a row, their best run since December 2014 under Carlo Ancelotti (12).
- Benzema has scored more first goals than any other player in La Liga this season (11).
- Modric has scored his first goal from inside the box in La Liga (seven overall).
- Madrid have won eight La Liga games in a row, their best run since December 2014 under Carlo Ancelotti (12).
Fernando Torres scored his fourth goal as many La Liga games to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
