The home favourite entered round three two shots off the lead and he was still there after nine holes as he turned in 35 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

The world No 5 then made five birdies and an eagle on the way home in a 63 to get to 17 under and lead the way from fellow Spaniards Rafa Cabrera Bello and Samuel Del Val.

Del Val – ranked 1,408 places below Rahm in the Official World Golf Ranking and without playing privileges internationally – bogeyed the last in a 69, while three time European Tour winner Cabrera Bello signed for a 70.

Swede Jens Dantorp was then at 11 under, a shot clear of local favourite Adri Arnaus, South African Zander Lombard and Australian Jason Scrivener.

A victory for Rahm would see him make it five European Tour wins from just 39 appearances, including three Rolex Series victories, while a top four finish would move him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex.

The 24-year-old has often spoken of all Spanish golfers walking a path created for them by the late, great Seve Ballesteros and Rahm could reach five wins in ten fewer events than his hero at the venue where Ballesteros claimed his 50th and final European Tour victory 24 years ago.

Leading the group at -8 was Justin Harding, who came home in 30 to sign for a 64.