The Argentina striker had scored just once in his previous nine appearances, but found the net along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and substitute Karim Benzema as Real rattled in three goals in five second-half minutes.
Modric lashed in a superb right-root shot to put Real ahead -- another vital goal after his superb effort against Manchester United in the Champions League which helped earn Madrid a quarterfinal clash with Turkey's Galatasaray.
Tottenham will be hoping the 25 year old can replace Luka Modric, after the creative Croatian midfielder completed his moved from Spurs to Real Madrid earlier in the week.
The later introduction of top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo led to Real's 58th-minute equalizer as the Portugal forward won a free-kick which Luka Modric delivered perfectly for striker Gonzalo Higuain to head home.
Luka Modric, signed last year from English club Tottenham Hotspur, then spurned a glorious chance to put Real ahead before Valencia's Brazilian striker Jonas twice went close in a matter of minutes.