Isco and Karim Benzema were on the scoresheet as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu this evening.
The league leaders hit the woodwork twice early on before a goal in each half handed them the win against a side that they beat 8-2 earlier in the season.
The result leaves Carlo Ancelotti's side four points clear at the top of the table.
Read how all the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Good afternoon! Real Madrid know that a win this afternoon will keep them at the top of the La Liga table for another week, but they face a Deportivo side that have lost just one of their last six. Let's start with a look at the teams...
REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Casillas, Varane, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Nacho, Kroos, Isco, Illarremendi, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale
DEPORTIVO STARTING XI: Fabricio, Pablo, Laure, Luisinho, Lopo, Bergantinos, Lucas, Cuenca, Cavaleiro, Borges, Riera
REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Navas, Carvajal, Osede, Silva, Medran, Hernandez, Jese
DEPORTIVO SUBSTITUTES: Canella, Lopez, Medunjanin, Dominguez, Wilk, Gomez, Costa
Marcelo is back from suspension for the hosts, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to turn focus back on his football after his birthday party made the headlines earlier this week.
On-loan Wigan Athletic striker Oriol Riera continues up front for the visitors, while Celso Borges and Lucas, who have four goals in Deportivo's last three matches between them, also start.
Deportivo will have bad memories from their last match against Real as a Ronaldo hat-trick led the current league leaders to an 8-2 victory back in September.
Here's Gareth Bale arriving at the Bernabeu a short time against:
The players have arrived at the stadium, where they will play against Deportivo from 18:00h #RealMadridvsDepor pic.twitter.com/jbdEf4ZKcm
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) February 14, 2015
Ronaldo made his debut for Real against Deportivo after joining the Spanish giants from Manchester United. Benzema and Marcelo also made their first appearance for the club against today's opponents.
PREDICTION! The players are in the tunnel ready to make their way out for this evening's match so let's make a quick prediction. Deportivo will be keen to avoid another whipping at the hands of Ancelotti's side, but Real will be hurting after last week's loss, so I'm going for a 4-1 win for the hosts.
KICKOFF! Real Madrid get the match underway.
It's Real Madrid on the attack in the opening moments of this match as Bale and Kroos make their way down the right to force an early corner. Bale's ball back in drops to Illarramendi, but he can't get the shot away.
Deportivo had barely had a touch in the opening five minutes as the home side patiently pass the ball around in midfield while waiting for gaps to open up. Oriol Riera eventually gets down the other end for the visitors, but his curling shot flies high and wide.
CHANCE! Deportivo might not be seeing much of the ball, but they look dangerous with it at their feet as Isaac Cuenca faces a point-blank stop from Casillas after Lucas send the ball in. The visitors have a corner as a result, and it eventually drops for Riera on the edge of the box, but he fires over.
Laure battles hard to try to squeeze past Marcelo down the right flank for the visitors, but Varane helps his defensive colleague out to halt the move.
CHANCE! Real get back down the other end, and Isco pulls it back to Ronaldo in the centre of the area. The Portuguese has time to take a touch, but instead goes for the spectacular with an overhead bicycle kick. It wasn't far off, but he could't quite squeeze it in the top corner.
CHANCE! This is becoming a really open contest as Deportivo quickly make their way back down the other end, leaving Lucas to unleash a low effort from the edge of the box, but he shot is scuffed, taking all the pace off it to leave Casillas with an easy stop.
OFF THE BAR! It's another opportunity for the hosts as Ronaldo drives it towards the goal from the edge of the area, but Fabricio tips it onto the crossbar. Benzema tries to lash in the rebound, but it's just wide.
Deportivo have a corner, but Benzema is back to help out in defence and he wins it back for the hosts on the edge of the box to get Real back on the attack.
OFF THE BAR! Real Madrid rattle the crossbar for the second time, and this time it's Bale that is denied by the woodwork. Benzema plays it through to the Wales international, who takes a touch before launching the ball towards the top corner, but it snacks the bar before the rebound is fired wide.
CHANCE! Bale and Benzema are proving a lively combination at the minute as Bale plays the ball in for the French international this time, but his flick on is deflected behind for a corner, which Deportivo quickly clear.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna (Isco)
Bale crosses it to Benzema, who slots it forward for Ronaldo, who misses the ball completely from just a couple of feet out. It's played back to Isco by Arbeloa though, and he manages to to curl the ball into an open goal from the edge of the box.
CHANCE! Ronaldo gets into some grappling with Lopo just outside the Deportivo box, giving the hosts a free kick. The forward goes for goal direct from the set piece, but his attempt is straight at Fabricio.
Luisinho and Lucas try to create something down the other end for the visitors, but Kroos intercepts the latter's cross to clear to danger. Cavaleiro sends it back in moments later, but Casillas is ready to claim it.
There's a half chance for Deportivo as Cuenca wins the ball 20 yards out. He hasn't got any there in support so has to take it on himself, and he fires it straight out the back for a goal kick.
Ronaldo doesn't look quite himself today. He misreads a pass from Bale, which Marcelo picks up before curling it back in for the Portugal international, but he then slices it well high. Benzema stretches to try to rescue the situation, but he can't create anything from it.
Varane sends a high ball forward to Benzema, who chips it on for Ronaldo, but he's penalised for a foul on Lopo. The Ballon d'Or is confused by the call, and his reaction is understandable, it the defender had both feet off the ground himself while charging in. The crowd are livid moments later when Benzema and Lopo clash, and Deportivo get the decision again.
Deportivo are trying to finish the first half strongly as Borges crosses it in from the wing, but Kroos makes the clearance for the league leaders. Meanwhile Lopo is upsetting the home fans again as he's involved in a collision with Bale, leaving the world's most expensive player on the ground in pain, but once again the referee gives nothing.
Bale is back on his feet and using his pace to stretch Deportivo down the right again, but his cross is towards Ronaldo is stolen by Lopo. Real quickly get the ball back though, but Ronaldo's pull-back towards Marcelo is turned behind for a corner.
BOOKING! Borges loses the ball to Kroos on the edge of the Real box, and tries to win it back by grabbing the German round the waist, earning himself the first yellow card.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna
So, Isco's goal separates the two sides at the interval after Ronaldo and Bale struck the bar early on. Deportivo have looked threatening on the attack, but they haven't got forward often enough, particularly since conceding.
Real saw by far more of the ball in the opening 45 minutes with 59% possession, and had nine shots to Deportivo's six. However, both sides had two efforts on target. The visitors have conceded twice as many fouls as Acelotti's side though, giving away 10 free kicks so far.
Here's the goalscorer celebrating just moments after handing the home side the lead. Isco now has six goals in all competitions for Real this season.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
If you enjoy La Liga, make sure you're with us all day tomorrow as we have live coverage from four matches in the Spanish top flight, including Barcelona's clash with Levante, and Atletico Madrid's trip to Celta Vigo.
The players are starting to head back out ready for the second half.
RESTART! Deportivo get the second half underway.
Both sides return unchanged for the second half. Real push forward early on as Ronaldo plays it in for Benzema, but the striker doesn't have enough room to get a shot away as he's crowded out.
BOOKING! Nacho is the first Real player to be shown the yellow card as he clashes with Borges in the air.
OFF THE POST! Borges is a fraction away from leveling the scores as the visitors take their free kick quickly, leaving the pacy winger unmarked on the edge of the box, and he fires it towards goal, leaving Casillas rooted to the spot, but it comes back off the upright.
Ronaldo launches Real on the counter-attack, setting up Benzema for a run at the Deportivo goal, but Fabricio comes off his line to gather it, although he gets an accidental foot to the head from the French international.
Laure wins a corner for the visitors as they try to make the most of a sloppy start at the back from the home side in this second half. Lucas tries to volley it in, but Lopo gets in the way of his teammate's strike, deflecting it behind for a goalkick.
Deportivo have the ball in midfield as they patiently make their way back into the Real box. Riera tries to rifle the ball in from the edge of the area, but it's blocked, and Ronaldo eventually gets it clear with a quick burst down the left flank, but the move comes to nothing.
Bergantinos tries to make his way back to Real's goal for the visitors, but his pass forward for Borges is intercepted by Varane, allowing Arbeloa to get it back down the other end. Real certainly haven't settled since the restart!
Bergantinos makes his way back down the other end for Deportivo, but his high ball in for Cavaleiro is dealt with by Isco.
BOOKING! Manuel Pablo is penalised for holding onto Ronaldo on the edge of the box, earning himself a yellow card, and giving the hosts a free kick in a dangerous position.
Ronaldo lines up the free kick and goes straight for goal himself, but the effort was always rising, and ends up high in the stand behind the goal. That really wasn't one of his better efforts.
SUB! The visitors make the first change of the night, with Riera making way for Helder Costa.
Real Madrid are getting into the Deportivo box often enough, but they haven't really come close to doubling their lead in the second half. Benzema makes his way in, and has Ronaldo to his right, but he takes the shot on himself and it's stopped by Fabricio.
A quick one-two between Ronaldo and Benzema leaves the former with a chance from 20 yards out, but he thumps it straight into Pablo.
SUB! Real make their first change, and it's Lucas Silva coming on for his first-team debut, with Illarramendi making way.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Deportivo La Coruna (Karim Benzema)
Real finally double their advantage as Ronaldo gets the better of Pablo to cross the ball in low to Benzema, who lobs it over Fabricio to give the home side a two-goal advantage.
The goal seems to have lifted Real as Isco and Ronaldo quickly play the ball forward again as the hosts look to put the result beyond doubt, but Luisinho wins it back for the visitors, who quickly force their way back down the other end, and win a throw near the corner flag.
Marcelo clears it for Real and launches Bale on the counter-attack. The Welshman sprints towards the goal before crossing to Benzema, but is doesn't reach its target.
BOOKING! Arbeloa tries to stop Borges making a run at the Real goal, and he clatters into the back of the wingers, earning him a booking.
SUB! The visitors make a change, taking off Lucas for Haris Medunjanin.
SUB! Isco goes off to applause all round as Daniel Carvajal replaces him for the final 10 minutes.
Arbeloa is living dangerously, having just been booked. He fouls Costa to give away a free kick on the edge of the box, before arguing with the referee. Deportivo can't make the most of the resulting set piece though, and Real quickly head down the other end, where Bale blasts it well high.
BOOKING! Lopo and Ronaldo have been at loggerheads all afternoon, and the defender finally makes one tackle too many, picking up a booking, which means he'll be suspended for Deportivo's next match.
CHANCE! Bale curls in the resulting free kick for the home side, and it looks like it's going to be a comfortable save for Fabricio, but it swerves at the last second, leaving the keeper stretching to tip it clear with his fingertips.
Bale is involved again as he skips around a couple of defenders before squaring the ball through a gap for Benzema, but Pablo gets to it first.
SUB! Ancelotti makes his final change, taking off Benzema to bring on Jese.
CHANCE! Ronaldo punches the turd in frustration as he scuffs his first-time shot from close range after Kroos provided the cross for the captain.
BOOKING! Laure is the latest player to be booked as he dives to try to win a penalty for the hosts while battling with Marcelo.
There are five minutes of stoppage time to be played.
Juan Dominguez tries to create something for the visitors with a high ball into the box, but Varane manages to guide it back to Casillas. In truth, Deportivo haven't looked like scoring since Real added their second.
Marcelo was left injured following his earlier clash with Laure, and after a couple of minutes receiving treatment on the sideline, he limps around to the bench, so Real will finish a man short.
FULL TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Perhaps not as convincing a win as expected, but goals from Isco and Karim Benzema move the league leaders four points clear of Barcelona.
That's all from this match, but make sure you join us again tomorrow with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia all in action in La Liga. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
