Seventh heaven for Real as they crush Deportivo

Real went into the game looking to regain fourth place in La Liga, but they were given a scare before recovering to record a comfortable win.

Despite dominating the opening exchanges, Real failed to take advantage, with Ruben making a good early save to deny Borja Mayoral.

Real were given a warning when Casemiro was forced into a fine last-ditch challenge to prevent Florin Andone from getting a clear sight of goal.

The hosts failed to heed that warning though and they soon found themselves behind.

Andone flicked the ball on down the right for Lucas Perez and the former Arsenal man headed for the byline before crossing low for Adrian Lopez to tap home at the far post.

It was a simple goal to concede and in many ways typical of Real’s woes so far this season.

The home side didn’t let that goal get to them though and responded well. Marcelo twice went close with low drives, either side of Ruben denying Cristiano Ronaldo with a fine one-handed save.

The pressure soon told for Deportivo as Real levelled just nine minutes after going behind. Marcelo was involved once again as his cut-back from the left was turned home by Nacho to level the scores.

It looked like staying that way too until a moment of magic from Gareth Bale. The Welshman gathered the ball at the far post, before cutting onto his left foot and curling an effort into the top corner with the minimum of fuss.

That meant that Real went into the break ahead and ran away with the game in the second half.

- Second-half blitz - 

Luka Modric found the side-netting with a low effort, whilst Mayoral was just unable to convert Marcelo’s low centre.

Ruben produced another fine save just before the hour mark as he denied Casemiro but from the ensuing corner Real extended their lead.

Bale rose highest to flick Toni Kroos’ set-piece into the far corner to double his tally for the day and from there on in there only looked like being one winner.

Modric curled a fine first-time effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards with 68 minutes gone to further extend Real’s lead and whilst they had a brief wobble just afterwards that ended in Andone inexplicably blazing over from six yards and having an effort cleared off the line by Nacho, Real soon regained their composure.

 

21 January 2018

With 12 minutes to play Ronaldo managed to get his name on the scoresheet as he converted Casemiro’s cross from the right at the far post.

The Portuguese had another effort chalked off just two minutes later but he didn’t have to wait too long to double his tally as he bravely headed home a cross from substitute Lucas Vazquez, taking a kick to the face in the process.

 

21 January 2018

That made it 6-1 to the home side but things still got worse for the visitors in the dying embers of the game as Nacho completed his brace by firing home on the turn at the far post after Ronaldo flicked on Kroos’ corner from the right.

The win sees Real regain fourth place in La Liga ahead of their Copa del Rey clash with Leganes this week, whilst Deportivo remain in 18th.