Benzema scored his 22nd goal of the competition in the 29th minute and worked a one-two passing combination to help Francisco "Isco" Alarcon make it 2-0 in the 40th.

Gareth Bale ran free to score Madrid's third after receiving Benzema's pass five minutes after halftime.

Pablo Sarabia got Getafe's consolation goal with six minutes left before James Rodriguez scored for the visitors.

Cristiano Ronaldo then rounded off Madrid's seventh consecutive league victory in stoppage time with his tournament-leading 31st goal of the season.

Madrid, which earlier this week advanced to a Champions League semifinal against Manchester City, provisionally passed Atletico Madrid into second place and moved to within one point of Barcelona.

"We have always said that we will never give up," Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas said. "We have to win our remaining matches and then see what happens."

Barcelona will try to end a three-round winless run against Valencia on Sunday, when Atletico will host Granada. Diego Simeone's side, which eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League quarterfinals this week to advance to a tie with Bayern Munich, trails Barcelona by three points. After this weekend there will be five rounds left.

Getafe remained winless for a 13th successive match in the debut of coach Juan Esnaider, a former Madrid player who replaced the fired Fran Escriba on Tuesday.

Not surprisingly, Madrid outclassed its struggling crosstown rival from the very start.

Ronaldo, who hit a hat trick on Tuesday to lead Madrid's comeback over Wolfsburg in the Champions League, struck the post in an early warning of what was to come.

A wave of attacks by Madrid finally led to Benzema's breakthrough when he used his right foot to sweep in Rodriguez's cross.

Both Isco's and Bale's goals came after each player dribbled forward from near midfield, unbothered by the hosts, which were left in last place at two points from safety.

Later on Saturday, Celta Vigo hosts Real Betis, Real Sociedad visits Eibar and Sporting Gijon is at Las Palmas.