After a slow start on Sunday evening, Real Madrid quickly moved through the gears to comfortably dispatch Deportivo.
Jose Mourinho made four changes to the team that won at Rayo Vallecano the previous Monday, notably choosing Luka Modric in Xabi Alonso’s role, allowing for Mesut Ozil’s return to the XI, and picking Raphael Varane at centre-back, shifting Sergio Ramos to right-back.
Predictably, the home side did most of the early pressing, but in struggling to connect in the final third, they were punished at the other end with Depor’s first attack when Riki dodged one tackle to cut into the area and poke the ball past Iker Casillas with ease.
Whilst Real still struggled for fluency in response, they were handed a way back in when Manuel Pablo’s foul on Angel Di Maria was adjudged to have been inside the penalty area. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to convert.
Real continued to push and as the half wore on made particular progress targeting Pablo at right-back. Luka Modric’s slide rule pass for Angel Di Maria’s goal before the break was not the first move played behind the veteran Depor man. Di Maria’s original strike from this pass came back off the post, but he was there to head in the rebound for 2-1.
Another rebound just before the break provided Real’s third, when Ronaldo proved most alert to Sergio Ramos’ original parried shot.
From the break, Ricky Kaka was handed a first official appearance of the season, replacing Ozil.
Real took control of the game in the second period, dominating possession and creating a number of half-chances in front of goal, but it was via a set-play that they netted the fourth, as Xabi Alonso’s long-range cross was met by Pepe in the area.
The home side then were handed a fifth, as Kaka’s attempted cross into the box caught Evaldo's right hand. Ronaldo completed his 16th Real Madrid hat-trick from the spot.
Real Madrid 5-1 Deportivo
Scorers: Riki 16 (D), Ronaldo pen 23, 44, pen 84 (RM), Di Maria 38 (RM), Pepe 66 (RM)
Real Madrid: Casillas; Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Modric (Alonso 58); Ronaldo, Ozil (Kaka 46), Di Maria; Higuain (Benzema 65)
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Pablo (Laure 46), Ze Castro, Marchena, Evaldo; Dominguez (Camunas 70), Alex, Aguilar; Gama, Pizzi; Riki (Nelson Oliveira 56)
Ref: Ayza Gamez
