BARCELONA, Spain, Jumada II 16, 1436, Apr 5, 2015, SPA -- Cristiano Ronaldo erupted for his first five-goal game on Sunday, ending all talk of a dry spell as the Real Madrid star led a 9-1 demolition of Granada to keep the pressure on Spanish league leader Barcelona, AP reported. Ronaldo followed Gareth Bale's opener by netting his first three goals in a stunning eight-minute span to decide the match before halftime at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Ballon d'Or holder added two more goals after the break as Karim Benzema also netted a pair in one of the club's most lopsided wins. Madrid hadn't scored nine goals in a league match in 47 years. Its biggest league victory remains an 11-2 thrashing of Elche in 1960. "Cristiano is a phenomenon," Benzema said. "He is always on the lookout for goals and ways of helping the team." Madrid and the Spanish league said this was the first time Ronaldo had scored five goals in a match and it came after a two-month stretch when the Portugal star was merely extremely good after his spectacular year in 2014. That recent dip in form had even earned him unexpected criticism as Lionel Messi took over as the league's most in-form scorer. Usually protective of his players, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday that Ronaldo "had lowered his productivity" in the past two months as Madrid lost its league lead to Barcelona. Ronaldo responded in emphatic fashion by netting his 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th goals in his 41st game of the season in all competitions. His performance left his coach almost as awe-struck as Granada's helpless defenders was left in the relegation zone. -- SPA 21:51 LOCAL TIME 18:51 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w