Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's huge match at the Riazor as title-chasing Real Madrid travel to face Deportivo La Coruna. It didn't look like being the case for much of the campaign, but the title race has gone all the way to the wire in Spain and Real Madrid could still win the trophy today, although they need a win to stand any chance. We have a bumper 90-minute build-up before our 4pm kickoff, so let's get started with a look at the visitors...

The equation is simple for Real Madrid heading into today's game, and unfortunately for Los Blancos things remain out of their hands. They go into this final weekend still a point off Barcelona in the La Liga table, and their inferior head-to-head record against the Catalan giants means that only a win will do for them today. A draw and Barcelona defeat would see Barca still win the title despite finishing on the same amount of points, but any Barca slip-up coupled with a Real Madrid win would result in the title heading to the Bernabeu.

Madrid will certainly be confident of keeping their end of the bargain considering both their recent form and the form of Deportivo heading into the match, but almost everyone associated with the club will have one eye elsewhere today too. Barcelona take on Granada away from home at the same time as this game, and it would be a major surprise if Luis Enrique's side were to let that one slip. Granada currently sit 16th in the standings whereas Barca have returned to form in style in recent weeks. The odds still very much favour another title for Barca, but all Madrid can do now is win today's game and hope for a favour.

In truth, Real Madrid even being in a position where they can win the title on the final day is something of an achievement considering where they were just a couple of months ago. As with every campaign, they would have gone into it expecting to challenge for the league, but those aspirations looked dead and buried when they trailed Barca by 15 points in mid-March. An unexpected collapse for Barca, in which they lost three games in a row, has given Madrid a route back in though, and while Barca themselves need to take an assist for that, Real have kept the pressure on by continually picking up the victories.

The visitors go into today's match having won each of their last 11 outings in La Liga, and they are today looking to make it 12 on the bounce for the first time since 2010. They last time they didn't pick up maximum points in a game was back on February 27, when they were beaten 1-0 by city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu. That is their only loss in their last 22 league outings stretching back to the tail end of last year, while Zinedine Zidane has only been beaten once in his 19 league games in charge of the club. The Frenchman has adapted brilliantly to his first job in senior management, and much of the credit for Real Madrid's second half of the season has to go to him.

Zidane has also managed to lead Real Madrid to the final of the Champions League in his first season at the helm, so should things go their way today then it could end up being a very memorable debut campaign in management for the three-time World Player of the Year. Their passage into the final of the Champions League is part of an ongoing nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions heading into today's match, which stretches back to their 2-0 loss to Wolfsburg in the first leg of their quarter-final. They have won eight of those nine games too, so they go into today's game in fine form.

The most recent of those victories came on Sunday, although their 3-2 triumph over Valencia was not quite as convincing as many people would have expected. Ronaldo scored twice to help them to victory, although Gomes's 81st-minute strike for Valencia made things nervy in the closing stages. Anything other than a victory would have seen Real Madrid join their city rivals Atletico in dropping out of the title race, but in the end they hung on to take it to the final game of the campaign.

They would, of course, ideally want to be finishing the season at the Bernabeu, but Madrid have been good away from home this season, particularly since Zidane took over the club. Los Blancos lost three of their final five away games of 2015, but since the turn of the year they have only been beaten once on the road from 13 outings, with that coming at the hands of Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. They have won eight of those matches too, although they do only have the third-best away record in La Liga this season, behind both Atletico and Barcelona.

They are yet to be beaten on the road in 2016 when it comes to La Liga, though, winning seven and drawing three of their 10 league away games since a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Villarreal on December 13. They have won the last six of those too, not dropping points since February. Another win today would equal their best run away from home since December 2014, while their 10-game unbeaten run is also the best since March of that year. They have lost fewer away games than any other team in La Liga (two), although their 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in their most recent outing on the road was their first clean sheet in 11.

Their defensive record this season is actually not too impressive, with 34 goals let in from their 37 games. That is the worst record in the top four, and the same number of goals conceded as ninth-placed Malaga. However, at the other end they have been almost unstoppable, scoring 108 goals. Barcelona currently lead the scoring charts with one more goal, but it is already Real Madrid's third-highest scoring season ever in La Liga after 2011-12 (121) and 2014-15 (118).

The team news should be starting to filter through in the next couple of minutes, but while we wait it is worthwhile explain just what winning the title would mean for a Madrid side this season. Barcelona have dominated Spanish football in recent years, lifting the trophy five times in the last seven years, whereas Madrid have only won it once in that time. The current crop of Barca players have been lauded by some as the greatest team of all time, and it is not easy for Real to watch on as their biggest rivals get such praise, so if they can pip Barca to the title on the final day it would be arguably one of the sweetest titles in the club's illustrious history.

TEAM NEWS! The teams are in!

DEPORTIVO STARTING XI: Pletikosa; Pablo, Arribas, Sidnei, Navarro; Cartabia, Mosquera, Bergantinos, Fajr; Lucas, Alberto
Subs: Manu, Cani, Riera, Jona, Borges, Jonas, Rober

REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Subs: Casilla, Varane, James, Kovacic, Jese, Isco, Danilo

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, starting with the hosts, Victor Sanchez has made a few changes to the team that beat Villarreal last time out, and all of them come in defence, Stipe Pletikosa is given the gloves in goal ahead of Manu, while 40-year-old Manuel Pablo gets a very rare run-out at right-back. The only other change sees Navarro replace Juanfran on the left side of the defence.

Lucas Perez has been the main source of goals for Deportivo this season, and he was on the scoresheet again last weekend to double the lead against Villarreal. Fajr, who opened the scoring in that match, also starts again this afternoon as Sanchez names an unchanged midfield and front line. Whether they will get many chances against a Madrid side more intent on winning that usual remains to be seen, but they do have the players to snap up a chance should one come their way.

As for Madrid, the revert to full strength for this must-win contest as Zinedine Zidane makes five changes to the side that beat Valencia last time out. That includes returns for Keylor Navas in goal and Dani Carvajal and Pepe in defence, with Casilla, Danilo and Varane all dropping to the bench as a result. Luka Modric also returns in midfield alongside Kroos and Casemiro, while Bale is the fifth player to come in from last weekend.

Bale missed that match against Valencia due to a knee injury, but he is back ready to start this afternoon. It has been a bit of a stop-start campaign for the Welshman due to injuries, but when he has been playing he has generally been in good form. He has 19 goals in 20 league starts this season, and has found the back of the net four times in his last five appearances in all competitions. Karim Benzema is also having the best season of his career, at least as far as league form is concerned, with a personal-best 24 goals this term.

The main threat is still Cristiano Ronaldo, though, with the Portuguese striker having enjoyed another superb campaign. There has been some criticism as to who he has scored a lot of his goals against, but he has popped up with strikes in El Clasico and in numerous Champions League games, and it is impossible to argue with a season tally of 49 in all competitions (33 in La Liga). If the 2016 Ballon d'Or once again comes down to him and Messi then you would have to say that Ronaldo is in front right now, although Luis Suarez is also making a strong claim for consideration.

Stopping Ronaldo is the challenge that faces Deportivo today, and it is one that many teams have failed with in the past. The hosts know that first hand having been on the end of a Ronaldo hat-trick on Real Madrid's most recent visit here, although they will feel more confident of getting something from today's game now than they were a week ago having ended a six-match winless streak last time out.

It has been a largely frustrating campaign for Depor, but they can at least go into this final day safe in the knowledge that they are under no pressure to get a result. They sit six points clear of the relegation zone and could still finish in the top half this term, which would be something of an achievement compared to their recent past. They would need other results to go their way for that to happen, and also to beat Real Madrid this afternoon, which of course is no mean feat.

Should they manage that, though, and Las Palmas and Eibar lost to Malaga and Espanyol respectively tomorrow then Deportivo will finish 10th in the table. That would be a significant improvement on last term, although they could lost today and still have made progress this season. They ended the campaign 16th with only 35 points last term, meaning that they are already three places and seven points better off this time around. It is a far cry from their heyday of the early 2000s, when they won the title and were regular members in the top three, but at least there are signs of improvement.

The main stumbling block for Deportivo when it comes to pushing even further up the table this season has been the amount of games that they have drawn. Their statistics for the campaign are actually quite strange, with a whopping 18 draws from their 37 games, meaning that another today would see them end the season with a 50% draw ratio. That is six more matches than any other side in the league has drawn, while no side in the division has won fewer games, with Deportivo's tally of eight being the same as Rayo and Levante. At the same time, though, no team outside the top four has lost fewer games either.

Their season can also beat split up by year, with Deportivo having suffered a major slump in form over the second half of the campaign. They only lost two of 19 matches in all competitions in the 2015 part of this season, but since the turn of the year they have incredibly only won twice from 22 outings. Again, they have picked up fairly regular points in that time with 10 draws, but they have also lost 10 times and that record is not one that will get you climbing the table very fast at all.

The second of those wins only came last weekend too, with Deportivo producing an impressive 2-0 victory over high-flying Villarreal away from home. It was a result that secured their La Liga status going into today's final game of the season, ending a winless run that stretched back to March 19 and saw Depor alternate between draws and defeats for six games in a row. That result also means that a surprise victory today would see Depor win back-to-back league wins for the first time since November.

It is at home where the bulk of Deportivo's problems have come, with Victor Sanchez's side record the worst home record in all of La Liga this season. They have amassed just 20 points from their 18 outings at the Riazor, picking up a league-low four wins in that time. They have a better record on the road this term, and today are looking to avoid falling to four consecutive home league defeats for the first time since August 2007, when that run spanned the last two home games of one season and the first two of the next.

Unsurprisingly, their home form mirrors in the away form when it comes to the 2016 slump, with Deportivo having only won once in 11 games in front of their own fans since the turn of the year. That victory came against rock-bottom Levante, while the other 10 games have seen Sanchez's side pick up just four points. Compare that to just one defeat in their first nine home games of the campaign and it goes to show just how drastically they have fallen away over the second half of the season.

Deportivo haven't kept a clean sheet at home so far this calendar year, with their most recent shut-out coming in their final game of 2015 against Eibar, 11 outings ago. They have conceded 10 goals in their last two too, thanks mainly to Barcelona's recent 8-0 win here, which has contributed in no small part to Deportivo also having the worst home defensive record in the league. In La Liga alone it is now 10 home games in a row in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet, which is their worst such run ever.

Their hopes of breaking that streak will not be high for a number of reasons, and chief among them is their recent record against Madrid. The last time Real came to town, back in September 2014, they hit eight goals in a rout at the Riazor, with Bale and Hernandez both getting braces, James scoring one and Ronaldo starring with one of his many hat-tricks for the club. Indeed, in the last five meetings between these two sides, Deportivo have conceded 22 goals.

PREDICTION: We're just under 10 minutes from kickoff at the Riazor now, which means that it is time for a prediction! The visitors need a win today, and to be honest it is hard to see them getting anything other than a convincing victory. Deportivo did pick up a good win last time out, but their general 2016 form cannot be ignored, especially at home. I can see Real Madrid running out 4-0 winners here, but it still not being enough.

Deportivo have lost on each of the last five occasions that they have faced Madrid, scoring only three times in that run. That includes the reverse meeting at the Bernabeu this season in what was Zidane's first match in charge of the club. He got off to a fine start with a 5-0 victory too, as Benzema scored twice and Bale notched a hat-trick to fire Los Blancos to a comfortable victory.

Zidane never did win here as a player, though, and until relatively recently Deportivo boasted a very impressive record against Real at the Riazor. It was a bogey ground for Madrid, losing six games in a row here, but they have since ended that hoodoo and have now gone four games unbeaten here against Depor.

We're very close to kickoff now, so before we get started let me remind you that Real Madrid need a win and for Barcelona to lose or draw against Granada in order to win the title. There will be one eye on the Barcelona game, then, and you can follow live coverage of that one by clicking here.

KICKOFF: Deportivo get us underway at the Riazor, then, as they look to prevent Real Madrid from doing what they need to do to keep themselves in the title race.

As expected, Real Madrid have taken early control of the match here, dominating possession in the opening stages. An early goal would settle a few Madrid nerves and may also put the pressure on Barca against Granada.

What a test this is for Manuel Pablo today. The 40-year-old is playing his last game for the club today, and he comes up against one of the greatest players of all time in Cristiano Ronaldo.

Deportivo just can't get out in the opening stages here. Real Madrid are applying relentless pressure, but Pletikosa still hasn't been called into action by the visitors. Very early days yet, though.

Real Madrid's early dominance pays off as they take the lead after just seven minutes. There are no prizes for guessing who got the goal, but it was very much a team one. Madrid patiently build an attack before eventually making a breakthrough down the left flank. The original cross is intended for Benzema, but his mis-hit shot goes into the path of Ronaldo, who applies a simple finish at the back post.

With Barcelona still level against Granada, Real Madrid have moved top of La Liga as things stand...

That, incidentally, was Ronaldo's 50th goal of the season in all competitions. It is the sixth year in a row that he has reached a half-century of goals, which is a phenomenal record. He may have been overshadowed by Messi for much of his career, but there is no doubt that he is right up there among the greatest players ever.

CHANCE! Almost a big chance for Real Madrid to get a second as Ramos is afforded a clear run at the ball from a corner. He throws himself at it, but is just inches short of making contact for what would have been a clear opening.

It has been utter dominance from Real Madrid in the opening quarter of an hour of this match. Deportivo have barely been able to string together a run of four or five passes before losing possession, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Madrid were to get a second sooner rather than later.

Deportivo have been doing a little better in the last couple of minutes, but every time they get into a forward area they seem to give the ball away. They look a little fearful of committing men forward too, with the ever-present threat of Real Madrid on the break.

It remains goalless in Granada, but Madrid will be keen to get a second goal here just to give themselves a cushion. Perhaps the worst-case scenario today would be Barca slipping up but Madrid not taking advantage of it.

UPDATE: It's not goalless anymore! Barcelona have taken the lead in Granada, with Luis Suarez tapping into an empty net after being set up by Alba.

That Suarez goal - his 38th of the season in La Liga - leaves the La Liga table now looking like this...

Real Madrid have a second, and Ronaldo is claiming it once again. It comes from a corner, with Arribas going down the area after tussling with Bale. There is not much in it at all, though, and the space it opens allows Ronaldo to get his head to the ball. It takes a big deflection on its way into the bottom corner, and there is a question of it being an own goal, but you just try taking it away from Ronaldo. That is league goal number 35 of the season for the striker.

SHOT! The hosts look for a response to that second goal, with Cartabia collecting possession on the right before ducking inside and going for goal. It is an ambitious effort, though, and doesn't come close to troubling Navas in the Real Madrid goal.

OFF THE POST! Ronaldo is inches away from a half-hour hat-trick! One ball over the top allows the striker through on goal, with the left-back playing Ronaldo onside. He races through and his first touch is exquisite before he flicks a shot towards goal, but it comes back off the post.

CHANCE! Moments later Ronaldo turns provider as he plays a one-two with Benzema, with the French striker collecting the reverse pass and looking to curl one into the corner of the net. Pletikosa is at full stretch to make a brilliant save, though.

Ronaldo is livid with himself that he didn't score that chance a few moments ago. He still believes that he could beat Suarez to the top-scorer award in La Liga this season, although as things stand he is still three goals short.

OFF THE BAR! Ronaldo hits the woodwork again! Marcelo slides a pass in to the striker down the left channel and Ronaldo collects it before unleashing a fine left-footed strike towards the far top corner. The keeper is well beaten, but the shot clips the top of the crossbar on its way behind.

CLOSE! Deportivo have by far their best attacking moment of the game so far as Fajr picks the ball up on the right and cuts inside. His shot from a difficult angle is a good one and has Navas very worried, but he flies just past the post.

UPDATE: Things aren't looking good for Madrid right now. Barca are matching them every step of the way today, and they are now two up against Granada courtesy of another goal for Suarez. What an incredible season the Uruguayan has had.

Well, there isn't anything Madrid can do about events in Granada, but they are doing their part here. They have dominated this first half and could be three or four up rather than just the two goals.

Just a few minutes remain in the first half here, and no doubt the Madrid staff are aware of what is going on in Granada. The players will also probably find out during the interval, so it will be interesting to see how they come out for the second half in the knowledge that the title is probably beyond them now.

Madrid have enjoyed 62% possession in this first half, but to be honest it feels like a lot more. Deportivo have only had one sight of goal all game so far, while Madrid should be more than two up.

CHANCE! A chance late in the first half for Madrid as Ronaldo sees a free kick hit the wall before his follow-up effort deflects through towards Casemiro. The midfielder gets to the ball before Pletikosa, but lifts his finish over the keeper and over the crossbar.

The referee brings an end to the first half here at the Riazor, and it is Real Madrid who have a comfortable lead at the interval. It has been one-way traffic in the visitors' favour in this game so far, and Deportivo may even feel that they are fortunate to only be two down. Madrid have been utterly dominant and could have more goals.

The opening goal arrived after just seven minutes as Ronaldo brought up his half-century of goals for the sixth consecutive season, applying a simple finish at the back post. Madrid attacked down the left flank and the initial cut-back was meant for Benzema. The striker's effort was scuffed, however, and that took the ball into the path of Ronaldo, who swept it home.

Ronaldo also got the second, although that one may be looked in to as it took a big deflection on the way through. It came via a corner as Ronaldo got his head to the ball before seeing it hit a defender and creep into the bottom corner. Deportivo were unhappy after Bale and Arribas had clashed in the middle as the ball arrived from a corner, but the referee was right to ignore the protests.

Ronaldo has also hit the woodwork twice as he continues to try to chase down Suarez in the scoring charts. The first of those hit the post after he beat the offside trap to race clean through on goal. He took the ball down brilliantly in the box before flicking a finish towards the bottom corner, only to see his effort hit the inside of the post. Not long afterwards he was played in again, but this time his left-footed strike clipped the top of the bar on its way behind.

Benzema has also been denied by Pletikosa during that dominant first half for Madrid. As things stand, though, it is all in vain, with Barcelona 2-0 up against Granada. Madrid need Granada to pull that one back if they are to win the title, with the top of La Liga currently looking like this at the halfway stage of today's games...

KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us back underway for this second half, and the big news is that the visitors have made a change, with Ronaldo being replaced by James Rodriguez.

That change must be with one eye on the Champions League final, despite that being a couple of weeks away. No doubt Suarez's two goals against Granada have contributed to that decision too.

SAVE! Routine stop from Pletikosa as James cuts inside and goes for goal, but it is straight at the keeper, who makes the save.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the afternoon is shown to Kroos for a mistimed sliding challenge. No complaints with that one.

I questioned how Madrid would respond to finding out that Barca are two up at half time, and the answer is not great. They are still on top, but they are not as dominant as they were in the first half and look a bit like a team who know the title has gone.

SAVE! Navas has his first save of the afternoon to make as Lucas Perez picks the ball up just outside the box before firing a low effort towards the bottom corner. Navas is down smartly to his left to make the stop, though.

Deportivo may be beginning to feel that there is something in this game for them. Real Madrid look a lot less threatening without Ronaldo on the field, while Deportivo are seeing more and more of the ball in the Madrid half.

YELLOW CARD! Pedro Mosquera becomes the first Deportivo player in the book following a foul on Casemiro, although he must have said something to the ref as the foul itself was not enough to warrant a booking.

This would have been a popular goal! Deportivo produce a good passing move, but with no-one in the box Manuel Pablo takes it upon himself to race up there. The ball comes to the skipper for the day, but he blazes a first-time left-footed effort well over the crossbar.

REAL MADRID SUB: Another change from Zidane sees Isco replace Kroos.

No change in Granada so far as that match also enters the final half an hour, so as things stand it will be yet another title for Barcelona. Remember, Real Madrid need Granada to score twice against Barca to win the title now.

CLOSE! Good football from Deportivo as Sidnei strides forward from defence and plays a lovely one-two just outside the area before hitting one that takes a slight deflection on its way wide.

The ball breaks to Carvajal a long way from goal, and the full-back can't resist having a crack. He won't want to see it again, though, as he blazes his effort a long way off target.

SHOT! Decent build-up from Deportivo again as Bergantinos plays a one-two on his way forward before trying to loop a shot in from 20 yards. His effort is too high, though, and flies over the crossbar.

DEPORTIVO SUB: The hosts make their first change of the afternoon as Arribas is replaced by Rober.

CHANCE! What a chance for Deportivo to pull one back! It is Rober who almost makes an immediate impact as he attacks Perez's cross and nods a downward header towards goal. It is straight at Navas, though, who makes the save. That is dreadful defending from the visitors.

Concern for Luis Alberto here as he pulls up having seemingly not been touched by Casemiro, which initially looks like a muscle strain. However, he is quickly back on his feet and moving freely enough.

DEPORTIVO SUBS: Two changes for the hosts here as Fajr and Mosquera make way to be replaced by Celso Borges and Oriol Riera.

REAL MADRID SUB: Real also make their last change of the contest as Jese replaces Bale.

Big chance for James as he is played in by Benzema, only to then be denied by a fine double save from Pletikosa. The linesman's flag is already up, though, but the replay shows that it was wrongly raised.

CLOSE! Another opening for Real as Isco plays a pass through for Carvajal before racing into the box for the return ball. Carvajal duly stands it up into the middle, but Isco nods it just wide.

CHANCE! Good goalkeeping from Pletikosa again here as Marcelo manages to make it all the way to the byline down the left before cutting inside. He looks to pull the ball back for a tap in, but the keeper makes an important interception.

UPDATE: It is well and truly over now! Barcelona have a third goal against Granada to rubber stamp the title, and fittingly it is a hat-trick for Luis Suarez to finish the season off.

SAVE! Another save from Pletikosa as Marcelo gets forward down the left flank again and fires a low cross/shot towards goal. The keeper gets down to make the save with his legs, though.

YELLOW CARD! Ramos picks up a late yellow card for a rash challenge from behind.

CLOSE! Real are looking to finish with a flurry here as James collects the ball on the right flank before cutting inside and flashing a curling effort narrowly wide.

YELLOW CARD! Modric becomes the latest name in the book for a trip on Cartabia.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this match.

The La Liga season comes to an end for the top two, then, and it is Barcelona to end the campaign leading the way as their 3-0 win over Granada this afternoon saw them hold off the challenge of Real Madrid. Madrid did their part with a routine 2-0 win over Deportivo that saw Ronaldo score both goals in the first half to surpass 50 for the season, but ultimately the win is in vain.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the conclusion of this season's La Liga title race, with Real Madrid forced to go without the trophy for a fourth consecutive year. I will leave you with our match report, but from me it is goodbye for now!