BBC back on song but no respite for Rafa or Perez

This was just what the doctor ordered. Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were all back on song as Real Madrid made light work of Getafe on Saturday to ensure a happy ending to a difficult week for the club. But not everybody at the Santiago Bernabeu was content.

Madrid had been badly beaten in their last fixture here, the 4-0 loss against Barcelona on November 21, and there was more unwanted news for the club on Friday as Los Blancos were thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev in their cup clash away to Cadiz on Wednesday night.

Rafa Benitez had claimed on Friday in the pre-match press conference that he did not fear a backlash from fans in the Getafe game, but before kick-off there were whistles for Cheryshev when the Russian's name was read out among the substitutes and many, many more for the coach moments later.

Luckily for Rafa, Madrid made a strong start as Benzema returned to scoring form with a goal after just four minutes. With all that has happened, it was just what Real required and the French forward made it 2-0 after 16 minutes, slotting home after Ronaldo had been held back in the area. When the ball hit the back of the net, however, the Portuguese continued to complain to the referee that he should have been awarded a penalty.

A header from Ronaldo did set up Bale for the third, though, the Welshman scoring in consecutive games for the first time this season with a neat cut-back and fine finish before Cristiano completed a fantastic first-half performance by racing away to slot in a fourth in a counter led by Toni Kroos.

Madrid were now 4-0 up with just 38 minutes on the clock with the BBC trident all on target for the first time since the 9-1 win over Granada on April 5th - exactly eight months ago.

A lot, however, has changed since then. Madrid were defending European champions at the time and still had hopes of retaining their trophy, while Carlo Ancelotti was in charge and fresh in the memory were the four trophies claimed in 2014.

But those memories seem distant now. Barcelona went on to complete the treble in 2014-15, Ancelotti was axed and Benitez brought in by Perez. And just a few months down the line, the Copa is already gone after a ludicrous administrative error, while La Liga and the Champions League look difficult for Madrid on current form.

Four minutes into the second half and with Real 4-0 up, there were clear chants of "Florentino, resign!" from a section of the fans and more whistles followed when Getafe pulled a goal back through an Alexis header with 69 minutes on the clock.

Later, fans in the 'Animation' stand sang "now more than ever, I love you Real Madrid", but that too was greeted with whistles and jeers from fans around the stadium and there was no mood of celebration inside the stadium despite the comfortable victory on Saturday.

So while there were positives to take from the game itself with James Rodriguez impressive and Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo all in fine form for Los Blancos, there was no respite for Rafa nor for Florentino as Madrid's frustrated fans made their voices heard at the Bernabeu.

The win was convincing, but the supporters remain far from convinced by the Perez project. The saga continues.