Real Madrid took another step towards their first Primera Division title since 2008 after provisionally moving 13 points clear of Barcelona with another convincing home win, this time over 10-man Racing Santander.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed Madrid into an early lead before Racing had defender Domingo Cisma sent off just before half-time for a second yellow card.
Karim Benzema then made it 2-0 just before the break and second-half goals from the Frenchman and Angel Di Maria completed a 20th win in 23 league matches this season for Jose Mourinho's side.
The victory also further extended Madrid's advantage over nearest challengers and three-time reigning champions Barcelona, who face a tough-looking match against third-placed Valencia at the Nou Camp tomorrow.
Madrid have been in stunning goalscoring form this season and it took them just six minutes to get themselves ahead today.
Ronaldo had already seen an early header come back off the post when he nodded in the opener from a Kaka cross.
Benzema then saw a good chance saved by Antonio Tono before the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute when Cisma was booked after an attempted Ronaldo cross had struck his arm outside the area.
It looked a harsh decision, but for the second successive match at the Bernabeu a visiting team had seen a player sent off just before half-time for handball, with Levante suffering an identical fate last weekend.
Madrid went onto win that match 4-2, and they equalled that goal return today thanks mainly to Benzema's brace.
The France international made it 2-0 in 45th minute when a low shot from the edge of the area past Tono, who just moments previously had done well to parry a far-post Marcelo volley.
Madrid's third goal came in the 73rd minute when the fit-again Di Maria, just 10 minutes after replacing Mesut Ozil, fired in a superb curling effort from the edge of the area which Tono got a hand to but could not keep out.
Mourinho's men had chances to further extend their lead before Benzema completed the scoring in the 89th minute.
The chance looked to have been lost when Di Maria saw his shot saved after Xabi Alonso had broken clean through and laid the ball inside to the Argentinian, but Benzema collected possession soon after to lash in his second of the night with the aid of a deflection.
Coach Mourinho said after the match: "I like the final score, but what I most like is taking another three points and having one game less to play. We won without much brilliance, but without much effort either. It's important to have as many players as possible available to us now that we'll play a game every three days."
"Di Maria brings certain characteristics to the team that we've lacked in his absence. He allows us to make different transitions when we recover the ball and attack. His recovery is very important."
"Khedira is a very good option for us. Everyone's available save for Lass and Altintop. The former may not be able to play in Moscow, but he'll be back soon. Altintop is still recovering."
"Higuain didn't train all week, but, as the professional he is, he wanted to be here. It is important to have him on the bench because we only have two pure centre forwards. He would have played had I needed him, but there was no reason to take risks. I didn't want him to play because he is very important to us."
"Our eyes are now on the Champions League and we must focus on our match against CSKA Moscow. We're all happy. We have two days in which to recover. We're a happy bunch and we are very motivated for the match, but we know playing in Moscow will be difficult."
Elsewhere Sevilla claimed their first league win of 2012 in new coach Michel's home debut after seeing off Osasuna 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Gary Medel opened the scoring in the 16th minute and substitute Piotr Trochowski added a second deep into injury time as Sevilla earned their first league win since December 5.
Getafe and Espanyol shared the spoils after an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.
The hosts had the better of the opening period but went behind midway through the second half when Alvaro Vasquez broke the offside trap to fire past Miguel Angel Moya.
Getafe were handed the chance to reply in the 70th minute as Thievy Bifouma brought down Miku inside the area and the Venezuelan crashed home the resulting penalty.
Kiko Casilla denied the hosts a winner with a fantastic double save from Daniel Guiza and Jaime Gavilan, and despite having Ernesto Galan sent off inside the final 10 minutes Espanyol comfortably held on for a point.
