The Portuguese netted a diving header as Rafael Benitez's men continued their unbeaten start to the season
Cristiano Ronaldo went joint-top of La Liga's scoring charts following his goal during Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Las Palmas on Saturday.
Los Blancos opened up a three-point lead at the top of the table with a result that never looked in doubt once Isco opened the scoring with a precise left-footed finish in the fourth minute.
Ronaldo then capitalised on slack defending from Las Palmas to meet Marcelo's cross with a diving header, though the visitors halved the deficit from a corner.
Nevertheless, Jese Rodriguez continued his impressive form of late to seal Madrid's win with an excellent drive before the break.
The hosts comfortably defended their lead in the second half as they held on to their unbeaten status, with a stiff test against Paris Saint-Germain to come in the Champions League in midweek.
PSG were sluggish in their win over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Friday, but Madrid dominated right from the start and opened the scoring after just four minutes.
Casemiro won the ball after some sloppy build-up play from Las Palmas and set up Isco on the right side of the area, with the attacking midfielder coolly slotting home with his left foot for his first goal of the season.
Things got even worse for Las Palmas in the 14th minute. Marcelo reached Ronaldo with a superb cross from the left and the Portugal international stooped to head past the helpless Javi Varas.
Kiko Casilla was called into action when Jonathan Viera tried his luck from a narrow angle after cutting inside from the left, but the Madrid goalkeeper was equal to it.
Isco nearly doubled his tally after a quick counter-attack down the right. Jese fired in a low cross toward the former Malaga man, but he failed to beat the Las Palmas goalkeeper from close range.
The away side pulled one back five minutes before half-time. Nabil El Zhar sent in a fine corner from the right-hand side and Hernan found the net with a powerful header off the left post.
Las Palmas' joy would not last long, however, as Jese restored Madrid’s two-goal lead in the 42nd minute. The 22-year-old received the ball from Toni Kroos, went past Aythami and hit a strike into the far corner to make it 3-1.
Perhaps with an eye on Tuesday's continental clash, Real took their foot off the gas after the interval, but Ronaldo remained hungry for goals, flashing a shot wide early in the period.
Chances were at a premium as Real took a stranglehold on the game, but Ronaldo ought to have made it four in stoppage time, though Varas was quick off his line to keep the score down.
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