Real Madrid exploded for nine goals on Sunday.

That number alone is shocking. But moreover, it represented the first time Los Blancos has put up more than four goals in a game since Jan. 31 against Real Sociedad.

In the ensuing match, the team would win 2-1 against a solid Sevilla side. And after that the flood gates imploded and the team went on a horrid run that featured four wins, four losses and one draw.

What changed after those games? James Rodriguez was out injured.

What changed on Sunday? James Rodriguez came back and was a key to the team’s success.

Admittedly, Real Madrid was not on fire prior to the James injury. The team was struggling along, but it was finding ways to win and Rodriguez was contributing in big ways. He started 2015 with three goals and two assists while only playing a full 90 minutes in one of the eight games to start the New Year.

Suddenly, he went down and the team imploded with a lengthy stretch of offensive ineptitude that featured more than two goals scored in a 4-3 loss against Schalke. The team scored two goals in just five of the nine games.

Luka Modric’s return to the lineup has also helped in many respects, but Rodriguez provides something the team has been lacking.

The usual midfield during Rodriguez’s absence has featured an exhausted Toni Kroos, Isco and a mix between Sami Khedira, Lucas Silva and Asier Illarramendi.

Isco is a tremendous dribbler with terrific passing skills and a solid final pass. But no one makes the killer pass better or more consistently than Rodriguez.

Rodriguez averages more key passes per game than any other player on the team and it is not even close. His 2.6 key passes per game is better than Kroos’ 2.2, which is second. Isco averages just 1.5, good for fifth on the team. But not only is he the best on Real Madrid; Rodriguez is the best at creating the key pass in all of Spain. Lionel Messi comes in second with an average of 2.5 key passes per game. For those who enjoy larger pictures, if Rodriguez were ranked in this category across major leagues in England, Germany, France and Italy, he would be the seventh most consistent key passer.

As a result, Rodriguez is second on the team in assists with nine and he is tied with all of Spain for third overall in that department. Other players tied with Rodriguez for third in assists? Denis Cheryshev, Koke, Karim Benzema and Luis Suarez.

What makes this all the most stunning is that Rodriguez is sixth on the team in average passes per game, emphasizing that he is doing more with the opportunities afforded to him.

He is also first on the team with 2.1 crosses per game and second overall in the league in that statistic.

He is also tied with Isco for most through-balls per game, a stat that ranks him seventh overall in all of Spain.

Throw in the eight goals he has this season and you have a player that provides tremendous offensive flair and creativity for Real Madrid.

And all of these qualities were on full display in the 9-1 win over Granada. Rodriguez had five key passes in the match, two assists, 54 passes overall and a team-leading nine crosses (including three accurate crosses).

The team looked far more unpredictable on the attack with Rodriguez on the pitch, something that had been utterly lacking in the last two months without him.

And he only played 60 minutes.

It will be interesting if Rodriguez gets to play over Isco the rest of the way or if the two split time for Ancelotti. Either way, Madrid must be thrilled to have the Colombian back in the fold.