Ramos nets for 16th straight season as Real thrash Leganes

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos scores their third goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Susana Vera

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos scored for the 16th La Liga season in a row as his side coasted to a 5-0 win at home to basement club Leganes in La Liga on Wednesday to move up to second in the standings.

The defender became only the second player after Barcelona's Lionel Messi to score in 16 consecutive Spanish league campaigns when he slotted home from the penalty spot at the second time of asking for Real's third goal in the 24th minute.

Ramos had initially seen his shot saved but was given a second attempt as a VAR review ruled that Leganes goalkeeper Juan Soriano had strayed off the goalline before diving to parry the ball away.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Eden Hazard in action REUTERS/Susana Vera

Real had made a flying start to the game, taking the lead in the seventh minute through 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes and doubling it 60 seconds later through Toni Kroos.

Madrid were awarded a second penalty in the second half but Ramos handed the ball to Karim Benzema and the Frenchman made no mistake to net the fourth goal.

Substitute Luka Jovic had a goal ruled out for offside after a VAR review but the Serbian finally scored his first goal for the club since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for 60 million euros ($67 million) in June, completing the rout with a header in added time.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Luka Jovic scores their fifth goal REUTERS/Susana Vera

Real coach Zinedine Zidane praised his two young forwards Rodrygo and Jovic as well as veteran Benzema after his side's biggest win of the season in all competitions.

"I'm happy for both of them, Rodrygo has a lot of character and with every game he seems to be settling better into the team," the Frenchman told a news conference.

"We're also delighted for Luka because he needed to score, he hasn't been playing much but it's important that he gets minutes and can take the pressure off Karim.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Leganes' Chidozie Awaziem reacts REUTERS/Susana Vera

"Karim was brilliant as always, it was important that he scored today because as Real Madrid's number nine he needs goals, but he contributes so much more than goals, he makes everyone else perform better."

Zinedine Zidane's side are second in the standings on 21 points, one behind leaders Barcelona who have also played 10 games after the 'Clasico' between the two rivals was postponed until December. Leganes are bottom with five points.

Granada, who are third on 20 points, could leapfrog Real and Barca to return to the top of the table when they visit Getafe on Thursday.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores their fourth goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Susana Vera

(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Eden Hazard is fouled by Leganes' Juan Soriano resulting in a penalty kick awarded to Real Madrid REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Rodrygo and Karim Benzema in action with Leganes' Unai Bustinza REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Eden Hazard is fouled by Leganes' Juan Soriano resulting in a penalty kick awarded to Real Madrid REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Leganes' Chidozie Awaziem in action with Real Madrid's Casemiro REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Leganes' Jonathan Silva in action with Real Madrid's Federico Valverde REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Eden Hazard in action REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Marcelo reacts REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid's Marcelo is shown a yellow card by referee Cesar Soto Grado REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 General view of Real Madrid fans REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid v Leganes - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 30, 2019 Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane REUTERS/Susana Vera