Real Madrid travelled to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday night looking to bounce back from Sunday's Clasico defeat at home to Barcelona.
It took just 53 seconds for Real Madrid to make the breakthrough at the Riazor, with Alvaro Morata netting to send the Madrid giants into an early lead, before James Rodriguez made it 2-0 in the 14th minute.
Deportivo were seemingly back in the game late in the first period when Florin Andone converted from close range, but Lucas Vasquez then struck for 3-1 Real Madrid in the 44th minute.
James's second of the night in the 66th minute made it 4-1 to the visitors, before Isco netted a fifth in the 77th minute.
Joselu made it 5-2 in the 84th minute, but that was not the final goal of the match as Casemiro hit a sixth for Real Madrid late on.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from La Coruna as Deportivo La Coruna welcome Real Madrid. Deportivo are still not quite safe from the drop this season, which means that they will provide competitive opposition for a Real Madrid team that will have been wounded by their 3-2 home defeat to Barcelona at the weekend. Stay tuned for what should be an entertaining game!
Indeed, Real Madrid relinquished first position on Sunday night after suffering a 3-2 defeat in El Clasico, with Lionel Messi netting in second-half stoppage time to spectacularly win the game for the Spanish champions. Barcelona have since moved three points clear at the summit after overcoming Osasuna, although Real Madrid now have two games in hand over their rivals.
Real Madrid booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League with victory over Bayern Munich last week, but the Madrid giants are desperate to lift La Liga this season. The destiny of the title is still in their own hands, but defeat tonight in La Coruna and Barcelona would be in control. There is simply no downplaying the importance of tonight's fixture at the Riazor Stadium.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Deportivo were expected to make changes following their 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad on Sunday, but what about Real Madrid? Has Zidane decided to freshen his XI? Let's have a look at the two XIs...
TEAMS!
DEPOR: Lux; Juanfran, Arribas, Sidnei, Luisinho; Alex, Guilherme; Gil, Colak, Kakuta; Andone
REAL: Casilla; Danilo, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo; Kovacic, Isco, James; Vasquez, Morata, Asensio
The two teams are in and we are now just about five minutes from kickoff. I have spoken about Real Madrid's need for the points tonight, but what about the home side? A total of 31 points has left Deportivo down in 16th position in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone. It has been an underwhelming campaign, but bar a late collapse, they will be playing top-flight football in the 2017-18 campaign.
Deportivo will enter this match having won just one of their last six in the league, but they have only lost one of their last six league matches on home soil, while they recorded a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in this stadium last month. The atmosphere is rocking inside the Riazor, and Deportivo will be looking to dent Real Madrid's title bid with a positive result tonight. Kickoff is imminent!
KICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off in La Coruna...
... GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Real Madrid (Morata)
Oh my word! Real Madrid take the lead with 53 seconds on the clock as Morata smashes the ball past Lux from inside the Deportivo box after some poor defending from the home side.
I was about to say that I could not believe that Zidane had made so many changes for this match, but this Real Madrid second string is some outfit. It has consistently performed for the Frenchman, and they are on their way to another three points. Morata has made another big point to Zidane.
Luisinho breaks down the right for Deportivo before looking to pick out Andone with a cross, but Nacho is on hand to head clear as Real Madrid some under some pressure from the home side.
SAVE! Lux gets down well to keep out a low strike from Asensio!
Isco hits one from distance after finding space outside the Deportivo box, but his effort just misses the far post. I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match.
The match has just settled in the last couple of minutes, with Deportivo enjoying more of the ball in the final third of the field. You just get the feeling that the next goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be vital. I am not confident that this Real Madrid defence will keep a clean sheet here.
SAVE! Lux keeps out a strike from Morata as chances continue to arrive!
POST! Asensio hits one from distance, and the attacker's effort smashes the outside of the post before bouncing away. Real Madrid could well be four goals ahead at this stage.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid (James)
Well, that was coming. Real Madrid have their second of the match as James flicks a low cross from Vasquez into the back of the net. The away side are absolutely irresistible at the moment.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Morata has the ball in the back of the net once again, but the offside flag is raised. It looked level, but Deportivo have been saved by the offside flag here.
Real Madrid have a free kick in a dangerous area as Alex brings Vasquez to the deck...
... Isco's free kick hits the Deportivo wall before bouncing behind for a corner kick.
Possession football from Real Madrid as they pass and probe in a deep position, which is at least giving Deportivo some time to breathe. No Ronaldo, no Bale, no Benzema, no Kroos, no Modric. That list goes on, but it has been a sensational opening 22 minutes from the visiting outfit.
SAVE! Navas saves a long-range strike from Gil.
SHOT! Super strike from Guilherme, but his effort is just too high.
Much better from the home side in the last couple of minutes as they continue to threaten, but Real Madrid manage to clear their lines with some desperate defending. Kakuta looks to sweep home from close range after smart work from Gil, but the offside flag comes to Real Madrid's rescue.
CLOSE! Vasquez breaks free inside the Deportivo box following more poor defending, but the Spaniard cannot squeeze his effort past Lux, who makes the save.
Isco looks to release Morata with a ball through the middle, but Sidnei does enough to allow his goalkeeper to claim. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Real Madrid still lead 2-0 courtesy of goals from Morata and James, which came in the opening 14 minutes of action.
You sense that there might still be something in this match for Deportivo, but it is vital that they score the next goal. A third for Real Madrid and it would be game, set and match.
SAVE! Another super save from Lux as the Deportivo goalkeeper manages to keep out a close-range effort from Morata, who just had to finish from close range!
Some of the defending from Deportivo tonight has been absolutely awful. Real Madrid, granted, have played some brilliant football, but it has been too easy to find space in the final third of the field.
GOAL! Deportivo 1-2 Real Madrid (Andone)
Deportivo are back in this football match as Andone converts from close range after a shot from Kakuta had fallen kindly for the Romanian international. It was a really tidy finish!
I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as both teams continue to look nervy in a defensive position. Real Madrid have created so many chances in this first period, but Deportivo are right back in this football match as we approach the half-time break here.
SAVE! Casilla is on hand to keep out a strike from Kakuta.
Good period for Deportivo here as the home side continue to force the issue with a number of set pieces and pressure on the Real Madrid defence. The visitors might well have been 4-0 ahead at this stage of the match, but it is now Deportivo in the driving seat as they seek a second goal.
CHANCE! Casilla punches the ball against Sidnei inside the Real Madrid box, and the ball just drops wide of the post. The away side are definitely riding their luck at the moment.
GOAL! Deportivo 1-3 Real Madrid (Vasquez)
Real Madrid have their third of the night as Vasquez pokes the ball home from close range after Marcelo's cross had been blocked into the path of the Spain international.
HALF-TIME: Deportivo 1-3 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading Deportivo 3-1 at the interval. The home side were back in the match when Andone netted in the 35th minute, but Vasquez's strike in the 44th minute has given Real Madrid breathing space once again.
STATISTICS! Deportivo have actually shaded the first-half possession with 51%, while the home side had 11 attempts in the opening 45 minutes - four of which were on target. Real Madrid, on the other hand, hit the target with seven of their 12 attempts. It has been some game at the Riazor tonight.
BENCH WATCH! Benzema, Modric and Casemiro are among those on the Real Madrid bench tonight, but there is no sign of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been given some time off. Deportivo, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Borges, Fajr, Joselu and John in the second period.
RESTART! Deportivo resume the action on home soil...
... DEPORTIVO SUBS! Change of goalkeeper as Tyton replaces Lux, who took the ball flush in the face in the first period, while Fernando Navarro has replaced Kakuta for the home side.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period, but Real Madrid appear more measured in their approach as they look to get the balance right.
Possession football from Deportivo in the early stages of the second period, although neither goalkeeper has had to make a save since the restart. It would be fair to say that the home side need to score the next goal in order to stand a chance of staging a second-half comeback here.
Possession football from Real Madrid at the moment as they pass and probe.
Marcelo has a goal-bound shot blocked by Sidnei as Real Madrid look to put this game to bed. Deportivo are just struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment as the visitors press.
Deportivo are going to have to make their third change of the match as Gil hobbles off here.
DEPORTIVO SUB! Joselu replace Gil for the home side.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and Real Madrid still lead 3-1. Guilherme has a half-chance for Deportivo after finding some space outside the box, but his effort was always wide of the post. One goal for the home side and it would be very much game on here.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Real Madrid to score a fourth as Asensio uses his incredible pace to burst clear of the Deportivo midfield before feeding Vasquez, but the Spaniard can only send his effort wide of the post. Asensio has been excellent once again tonight.
Half-chance for Morata, but his header is collected by Tyton in the Deportivo net.
SAVE! Tyton tips a curling Morata strike wide of the post.
Little over 25 minutes of football remaining in this match, and Real Madrid are set to join Barcelona at the top of the table once again. The race for the title could go right to the wire this season.
Half-chance for Joselu as the Deportivo forward pulls onto Marcelo at the far post, but his header is straight into the arms of Casilla. Still 3-1 Real Madrid with 65 minutes on the clock here.
GOAL! Deportivo 1-4 Real Madrid (James)
Real Madrid have their fourth of the night in the 66th minute as James slides the ball into the bottom corner after Morata had found the Colombian with a clever pass.
BOOKING! Isco (Real Madrid) is booked for a late tackle on Alex.
Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment, with Real Madrid extremely comfortable as they close on an important three points. Deportivo have played some decent stuff in the final third of the field tonight, but they have really struggled down the other end.
Joselu has the ball in the back of the Real Madrid net, but the offside flag is raised.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining at the Riazor, and Real Madrid are closing on an important three points as they stay in touch with Barcelona. It is also worth remembering that Los Blancos still have a game in hand, although that clash with Celta is yet to be rearranged.
Half-chance for Sidnei as a deep corner falls for the Deportivo centre-back, but his header clears the crossbar as the home side come close to a second goal once again.
GOAL! Deportivo 1-5 Real Madrid (Isco)
It is five for Real Madrid as Isco finds the back of the net with a curling finish after meeting a cross from Vasquez. Again, the defending from the home side was absolutely awful.
REAL MADRID SUBS! Casemiro and Mariano replace Isco and Asensio.
Some of Deportivo's defending tonight as been absolutely terrible. They are probably now safe from the drop, and they have not been interested in working back for long stages of this match.
Luisinho goes down inside the Real Madrid box under a challenge from Vasquez, but the referee is not interested. It was clumsy from the Real Madrid attacker, that is for sure.
GOAL! Deportivo 2-5 Real Madrid (Joselu)
Joselu gets his name on the scoresheet as the Deportivo forward heads a Guilherme cross home!
Well, Barcelona beat Osasuna 7-1 earlier tonight, and Real Madrid are now 5-2 up against Deportivo. It has been a night of goals in La Liga, and it has kept be nice and busy as well!
GOAL! Deportivo 2-6 Real Madrid (Casemiro)
Real Madrid have their sixth as Casemiro's long-range strike finds a route past Tyton.
REAL MADRID SUB! Tejero replaces Varane for Real Madrid.
Deportivo have actually given up here as they continue to allow Real Madrid space.
Mariano heads over the Deportivo net as we enter three minutes of stoppage time.
Almost full-time in La Coruna, and Real Madrid are moving level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. It has been an excellent performance from a second-string Real Madrid tonight.
BOOKING! Colak (Deportivo) is booked for dissent.
FULL-TIME: Deportivo 2-6 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 6-2 winners over Deportivo to move level on 78 points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
