Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu.
Madrid have fallen 11 points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga following the Catalan's 3-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday – ahead of El Clasico at the Nou Camp next weekend.
Deportivo, meanwhile, have enjoyed a fairly solid start to the season, securing six points from their opening five matches to occupy 13th spot in the table.
Deportivo enter the match having lost their first game of the season to Sevilla last week. Meanwhile, Madrid overcame cut wires to record a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
8.42pmSo there we have it. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us for more La Liga football tomorrow. Until then!
8.40pmSo there we have it. Cristiano Ronaldo is among the goals as Real Madrid move eight points behind Barcelona with a 5-1 win over Deportivo. Job done for Mourinho's side.
FULL-TIMEReal Madrid 5-1 Deportivo
90 min+1Madrid continue to push for their sixth in the latter stages. But that appears to be just about it for this evening.
90 minMeanwhile, we will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half.
87 minDeportivo enjoy a spell of possession in the second period as Marchena brings the ball forward, but Madrid remain such a threat on the break.
85 minRonaldo completes his hat-trick as he puts his second penalty in off the post.
84 minGOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Deportivo (Ronaldo)
84 minMadrid have a penalty as Evaldo handles in the penalty area. Ronaldo to take.
83 minPENALTY TO MADRID
83 minJust as I say that Kaka sprints into the Deportivo box, but Marchena comes across to clear the danger. Brilliant from the former Valencia man.
81 minStill Madrid control possession of the ball as the match enters the final 10 minutes. In truth, both sides probably just want it to end.
79 minRonaldo attempts to complete his hat-trick as he strikes an effort from outside the box, but it is just wide of the target.
77 minAnother sighter for Madrid as Kaka moves down the right, but his effort is straight at Aranzubia. Benzema was unmarked in the middle of the box.
75 minThe match is a bit of non-event at the moment. The match is over. Madrid are controlling possession. Now they must look ahead to Ajax in the Champions League.
73 minHalf-chance for Deportivo as Pizzi strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was never troubling and drifted wide of the target.
71 minChange for the away side as Camunas replaces Dominguez. Meanwhile, Khedira comes close with an effort down the other end.
69 minSo nearly number five for Madrid as Ronaldo finds Kaka in the box, but the Brazilian just cannot find the target. There are more goals left in this one.
68 minThat has well and truly wrapped up the three points for the home side. It could be anything in the remaining 20.
67 minMadrid make it four as Pepe heads an Alonso cross into the back of the net.
66 minGOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Deportivo (Pepe)
64 minSighter for Madrid as Ronaldo finds Marcelo in the box, but he gives away a free kick. Meanwhile, final change for Madrid as Higuain is replaced by Karim Benzema.
62 minDecent spell of possession for Deportivo as Pizzi and Marchena exchange passes in the Madrid half, but there is simply no way through Pepe & Co.
60 minAnother half-chance for Madrid as Marcelo finds Alonso on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard's shot is pushed away by Aranzubia. The fourth appears to be coming.
58 minAnother fine chance for the home side as Ronaldo picks up possession inside the penalty area, but he just cannot get his shot away. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso comes on to replace Luka Modric.
56 minChange for Deportivo as Riki is replaced by Nelson Oliveira. Can he inspire his team?
55 minAnother sighter for the home side as Ronaldo finds Higuain in the area, but Evaldo just clears possession at the vital moment. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is cleared by Marchena.
53 minPeriod of possession for the away side as Pizzi and Riki combine in the Madrid half, but there is just no way through at the moment. A goal either way may well decide this match.
51 minAgain Madrid threaten down the right as Khedira loops a cross into the box, but Aranzubia comes to collect. It's just so one-sided at the moment.
49 minIt's all Madrid at the moment with Modric and Kaka linking in the Deportivo half, but the former loses possession at the vital moment.
47 minEarly chance for Madrid to add a third as Ronaldo attempts to find Higuain in the box, but Evaldo just makes the challenge. That really would have been game over.
46 minHere we go then. Madrid kick us off in the second period. Changes for both sides at the break as Kaka replaces Ozil for Madrid. Meanwhile, Laure comes on in place of Pablo for Deportivo.
7.52pmJust a reminder that the result would leave eight points behind Barcelona ahead of El Clasico. Meanwhile, Deportivo would drop into 14th.
7.49pmMadrid have still been a bit sloppy with their final ball. But they are well worth their two-goal lead. Is there any possible way that Deportivo can save this one? Not for me.
7.46pmLet's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Madrid have dominated possession with 61%. Meanwhile, they have had nine shots to Deportivo's one.
7.43pmIt was Deportivo who took the lead with a Riki goal after 16 minutes, but Madrid were level seven minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot. Madrid moved ahead in the match seven minutes before the break when Angel di Maria produced a cool finish from close range and it was three after 44 minutes when Ronaldo headed his second of the match.
7.40pmSo there we have it. Madrid come from behind to lead 3-1 at the interval of their La Liga encounter with Deportivo. Simply put, they simply have to pick up all three points ahead of next week's trip to Barcelona.
HALF-TIMEReal Madrid 3-1 Deportivo
45 minThat goal may well have just wrapped the three points up for the home side. Meanwhile, we will play one additional minute at the end of the half.
44 minRonaldo adds his second of the match as he heads home from close range. Not the best goal he will ever score. But they all count.
44 minGOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Deportivo (Ronaldo)
42 minDeportivo continue to struggle for possession as we approach the break. And when they do get it, each attack is broken up outside the Madrid box.
40 minIn truth, it had been coming. Deportivo just needed to get to the break still in the match, but that second goal is huge for the home side.
39 minFinally Madrid lead as Di Maria finishes from close range after a fine pass from Modric.
38 minGOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo (Di Maria)
37 minDeportivo have a hint of a penalty claim as Varane appears to fell Aguilar in the box, but the referee waves play on. Meanwhile, Ronaldo's effort is pushed away by Aranzubia down the other end.
35 minDeportivo just get a little rest as they pick up a couple of free kicks in their own half. However, they keep giving possession back to the home side.
33 minChance! So nearly a second for Ronaldo as he advances in the area, but Pablo just makes a challenge at the vital moment. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is cleared.
31 minNothing much happening at the moment with Madrid in control of possession. Mourinho is not happy with the tempo and let's his players know all about it.
29 minThe home supporters have just started to find their voice as their team pass and pass inside the Deportivo half. The away side are camped in their own half at the moment.
27 minHalf-chance for the home side as Higuain chips a dangerous cross into the area, but Ze Castro is on hand to clear the danger. Deportivo just need a period of possession with the 30-minute mark approaching.
25 minIt's all Madrid at the moment as they pass and probe in the Deportivo half. You can only see this match going one way as it stands.
23 minRonaldo slots the ball past Aranzubia to level the scores at 1-1. That is his seventh of the season.
23 minGOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Deportivo (Ronaldo)
23 minMadrid are awarded a penalty as Di Maria is felled inside the box by Pablo. Ronaldo to take it...
23 minPENALTY TO MADRID
23 minMadrid continue to struggle for that final ball as Ronaldo's cross is cut out by Pablo. Deportivo are just so compact at the moment. The chances are not really clear-cut.
21 minIt remains all one-way traffic at the moment with Madrid flooding forward in each attack. However, they just do not look as fluent as they did last season.
19 minChance! So nearly an equaliser for the home side as Ozil finds Di Maria in the box, but his effort is just over the crossbar. Better from Madrid.
18 minHow often does that happen? Madrid have had all of the possession. But it is Deportivo who lead with their first attack. Oh how goals can change games.
17 minDeportivo lead with their first attack as Riki converts past Casillas from close range.
16 minGOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Deportivo (Riki)
15 minAnother sighter for the home side as Marcelo finds Ronaldo on the edge of the box, but his effort is wide of the post. Not a great effort. It is simply all one-way traffic with 15 minutes on the clock.
13 minStill Madrid continue to press for the opener as Di Maria finds Higuain, but Evaldo clears the danger. Meanwhile, Deportivo are struggling for possession at the moment.
11 minBest chance of the match for Madrid as Ozil finds Ronaldo in the box, but he hits his effort straight at the goalkeeper. That was a big opportunity.
11 minSighter for Madrid as Ozil attempts to find the run of Di Maria through the middle, but Dani Aranzubia comes to clear the danger.
9 minNot a great deal to report at the moment with Deportivo thwarting the home side's attack thus far. It is pretty much as expected with Madrid controlling possession.
7 minHalf-chance for the home side as Di Maria picks up possession outside the box, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar.
7 minSlightly sloppy from Madrid as Di Maria attempts to find Ronaldo on the left, but his pass is just too long for the attacker. Meanwhile, each Deportivo attack is breaking down in midfield at the moment.
5 minEarly threat from the home side as Sergio Ramos forces a corner down the right. However, Ze Castro rises highest to thump the danger clear.
3 minDecent start from the away side as they advance forward through Pizzi, but Marcelo is on hand to clear the danger. Meanwhile, normal serve is resumed as the men in white take control of the ball.
1 minDeportivo kick us off. Let's hope they take care of possession. I have a feeling they are not going to see it much this evening.
6.47pmHere we go then. Both sets of players are just emerging from the tunnel. Lovely evening in Spain. Let's hope that the football matches the weather.
6.44pmRight, we are just about five minutes away from kickoff this evening. It is prediction time. I am going for a 3-0 win for Madrid. I just do not see a way how Deportivo can get anything from this match.
6.41pmXabi Alonso also misses out for Madrid this evening. Meanwhile, Kaka sits on the bench once more despite scoring three goals for the club in mid-week.
6.38pmIn the last six meetings between the two at the Bernabeu, Madrid have been victorious in each and scored 20 goals in the process. That is some record.
6.35pmMadrid have not started the season in good form, however, losing against Getafe and Sevilla and only managing a home point against Valencia. But recent wins over Manchester City and Rayo suggest that stronger times could be ahead.
6.33pmThat said, Deportivo have managed to win just two of their 41 matches that they have played at the home of Madrid. Their last victory came with a 1-0 success in 2004. Meanwhile, Madrid are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run at home.
6.30pmDeportivo arrive at the Bernabeu having drawn their last four away matches in La Liga. Meanwhile, history also favours Deportivo with the club registering nine wins over Madrid this century. That is just second to Barcelona's 10.
6.28pmSo there we have it. Raphael Varane also starts for Madrid on the right side of the defence. Meanwhile, Karim Benzema drops out of the first XI.
6.25pmTeams:
Real Madrid: Casillas; Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Ozil, Modric; Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Pablo, Evaldo, Ze Castro; Marchena, Bergantinos, Dominguez, Aguilar, Gama; Pizzi, Riki
6.23pmTEAM NEWS: Mesut Ozil and Gonzalo Higuain both start for Madrid. Meanwhile, Deportivo pair Riki and Pizzi in attack.
6.20pmGood evening all! Well, here we go again. The big matches in La Liga just keep on coming with Madrid welcoming Deportivo on this bright Sunday evening in Madrid.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
