Zinedine Zidane's tenure as Real Madrid manager started with a La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
The home side led 2-0 at the interval courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
Bale had his second early in the second period as Los Blancos moved three goals ahead on the night, before the Welshman completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute.
Deportivo carried a threat throughout the contest, but the visitors could not spoil Zidane's first game in charge and they conceded a fifth in stoppage time when Benzema netted his second of the night.
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 the Bernabeu as Real Madrid welcome Deportivo La Coruna in what will be Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge of Los Blancos. Rafael Benitez was never going to survive after the crowd turned on him and now Zidane is the man tasked with leading the club into a new era. He starts at home, but it is against a Deportivo team that have surprised many with their strong performances right throughout this season.
Despite Deportivo impressing this term, the omens are not great for the visitors tonight. Real Madrid have gone nine league games without losing to Depor – winning eight times in the process. What's more, the Galician team have won on just one of their last 30 visits to the Bernabeu – a 1-0 victory back in October 2004. It is a tough assignment for the away side tonight, that is for sure.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Madrid with kickoff now just 45 minutes away. Who has made it into Zidane's first Real XI...
TEAMS:
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
DEPOR: Lux; Juanfran, Arribas, Sidnei, Navarro; Mosquera, Alex; Fede, Alberto, Fajr; Lucas
So there we have it. Zidane's first XI shows a couple of changes from Benitez's last XI. Dani Carvajal and Isco start ahead of Danilo and Mateo Kovacic, but James Rodriguez remains on a bench which also includes Rafael Varane and Jese Rodriguez. Pepe is preferred to Varane at the heart of the defence, but there are no changes up top as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale all start.
As for Deportivo, Lucas Perez, who has scored 12 league goals this season, will once again lead the line. Fede Cartabia, Luis Alberto and Faycal Fajr also all start in what is an attacking lineup, while the experienced pair of Pedro Mosquera and Alex Bergantinos will operate in the middle of the park. Oriol Riera and Jonas Gutierrez are both on the bench for the visitors to the Bernabeu.
As mentioned, Real Madrid have a very strong home record against Deportivo, while their recent home form in general has been excellent. Los Blancos have only lost one of their last 26 league games at the Bernabeu, but that was a heavy 4-0 defeat to Barcelona earlier this season. It did appear that they would pick up a vital three points away to Gary Neville's Valencia last weekend, but Los Che hit back in the latter stages to secure a share of the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
That result has left Real Madrid third in the La Liga table and now five points behind the new league leaders Barcelona, who moved ahead of Atletico Madrid after beating Granada 4-0 this afternoon. There is still a lot of football to be played this season, but more dropped points in this match would leave clear daylight between themselves and a very strong Barcelona once again.
That said, Atletico Madrid are also right in this title race. Entering Week 19, Diego Simeone's side were top of the table and they would return to the summit if they can beat Celta Vigo tomorrow evening. Atletico do not score as many goals as the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but they have only conceded eight - yes eight - league goals this season, which is just a stunning record.
Real Madrid have incredibly scored 17 goals in their last three home league matches – including 10 against capital rivals Rayo Vallecano last month. They dropped points at home to Malaga earlier in the season as well as losing to Barcelona, but aside from that, they have been very strong at home. Zidane also has some nice-looking fixtures ahead, with Los Blancoa facing Sporting Gijon, Real Betis, Espanyol and Granada in their four games after this one. Should be taking maximum points!
Talking of Zidane, he has become the first French manager in Real Madrid history. The 43-year-old represented Los Blancos as a player between 2001 and 2006, making close to 250 appearances in all competitions and winning La Liga and the Champions League. The former midfielder had been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla since 2014, but has now been given the chance to lead the first team. It is a massive job, but he is one of the best players to ever play the game.
Deportivo at home, on paper, is not the toughest of matches, but Deportivo have not played their football on paper this season. Many predicted the Galician side to struggle this term after only just surviving relegation from the top flight last season, but they have been very, very impressive. Indeed, only Barcelona have lost fewer league games than Depor at this stage of the campaign.
A total of 27 points from 18 matches has left them in eighth position in the table, but a gap has started to form with the top four. At the moment, Celta Vigo are the nearest challengers to Villarreal for the fourth and final Champions League spot, but Deportivo are right in the race for a European finish. They have only lost three league games this season, but that said, they have only won six, with nine draws currently stopping them from challenging for a place in the top four.
Both teams will enter this match having conceded 18 league goals this season, but Deportivo have only found the back of the net on 26 occasions and 12 of those have come from Lucas Perez, who has been one of the outstanding players in the division this term. The 27-year-old joined Depor on a permanent deal from PAOK in the summer and has been a key part of their strong form in the league this season.
Deportivo dropped into the Segunda for the 2011-12 season, having spent 20 consecutive campaigns in the top flight. They came back to La Liga at the first time of asking, but were then relegated the next season during a difficult point in the club's history. Second spot in the Segunda in 2013-14 saw them once again return and last season, they managed to survive in the top flight with a 16th-place finish.
Newbies to Spanish football might have Deportivo down as a team that have struggled throughout history, but that is simply not the case. They won the La Liga title in the 1999-2000 season, before finishing second, second, third and third in their next four campaigns. Not since 2008-09 have they finished ninth or above in the La Liga table, but their form thus far this season has aided suggestions that this could be a strong campaign for Victor Sanchez's team. Right, prediction time!
PREDICTION! Home win for me. Deportivo have been very difficult to beat this season, but there is a real feel-good factor around the stadium, with the home supporters in fine voice as Zidane's regime gets underway. I think that the visitors will score, but I am backing a 3-1 Real Madrid win.
KICKOFF! Here we go then - both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Real Madrid really cannot afford to drop points in this one, but they will remain third regardless of what happens tonight. Right, it is the away team that get the first 45 minutes underway here...
... as expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes and Marcelo has already embarked on a driving run down the left. Carvajal, who has been preferred to Danilo at right-back, has also started the game way up the field. Good tempo here.
Bale delivers a super cross towards both Ronaldo and Isco inside the Depor box, but Bergantinos is on hand to clear the danger. That could easily have been the opening goal of the match.
Bale, out on the right, has also delivered a couple of fantastic crosses into the Depor box.
It is nice play from Deportivo as Alberto combines with Lucas outside the Real Madrid box, but his strike was always rising over the crossbar. It has been a nice, open start in the capital here!
Juanfran delivers a super cross into the Real Madrid box and the ball eventually finds its way to Fajr at the far post, but his effort is straight at Navas. Real Madrid continue to enjoy possession of the ball, but the visitors have come to play this evening and they have a lot of talent in the final third.
SAVE! Lux gets down to palm away a low Ronaldo strike.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Deportivo to take the lead as Perez bursts into the Real Madrid box, but Navas is on hand to make a wonderful save. The visitors are so slick, so dangerous here.
Bale attempts to dance away from Navarro in a wide position, but the Deportivo full-back has the answer and the visitors once again manage to clear. Real Madrid remain the dominant team in terms of ball possession, but the game's outstanding chance has fallen to the visiting side here.
Sidnei does very well to put off Benzema, who threatened to meet a cross from Marcelo. Both Sidnei and Arribas have done well at the heart of the Depor defence in the opening 14 minutes.
Ronaldo, who has had a strong opening 15 minutes, again finds space outside the box, but his effort is deflected wide for a corner. Plenty happening at both ends of the field here.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Deportivo (Benzema)
Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the 15th minute as Benzema back-flicks the ball home from close range after Ramos had recycled the ball from a corner. There was a hint of offside about the goal, but Bale was standing in an offside position and Benzema was not. Super little finish there!
Deportivo just need to be careful that they do not concede a second in quick succession here as Real Madrid continue to pass and probe outside the box. Bale is sticking to the right side here.
Deportivo have just managed to regain some control here as they enjoy a passing sequence in the final third, but Real Madrid have such pace on the counter that you fear for the away team. It is the type of game where the next goal will be so very important. Depor cannot fall 2-0 behind.
Half-chance for Depor as Fede delivers a super cross towards Lucas in the Real Madrid box, but the Spaniard just cannot grow the extra inch and the ball flashes past Navas for a dead ball.
CHANCE! Marcelo swings a left boot at a low Isco cross, but his effort fizzes wide of the post. Ronaldo almost bundled Marcelo off it, but the Brazilian got his shot away!
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Deportivo (Bale)
And there is the second for Real Madrid. Bale gets his name on the scoresheet as the Welshman heads a Carvajal cross into the back of the net. Zidane is very much enjoying this start!
CLOSE! Ronaldo gives Juanfran the slip in a wide position before smashing one towards the bottom corner, but his effort is just wide of the post. The visitors are seriously struggling here!
MATCH PIC!
Deportivo are still carrying a threat here and Ramos needs to be at his best to rise above Perez and clear a super cross from Navarro. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining here.
Deportivo came from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 with Barcelona earlier this season and they will need to score at least twice here if they are to avoid defeat. That said, I would be very surprised if Real Madrid, in this mood, did not find a couple more goals. To a man, they look so motivated to win.
You do get the feeling that there might be something in this game for the visitors as they continue to threaten in the final third. Lucas has been their main outlet thus far and he will be looking to add to the 12 league goals that he has managed this season. Deportivo are very capable here.
Ronaldo bursts into the Deportivo box, but his low strike/cross is gathered by Lux.
Marcelo, who is almost playing as a left midfielder, bursts into the Depor box after super work from Ronaldo, but Sidnei just does enough to make the challenge. Arribas does not look comfortable when he is isolated in a wide position and the home side have such incredible pace.
Perez fizzes a low strike just wide as the away team continue to cause problems.
POST! Almost a sensational third for Real Madrid as Benzema finds Bale, who chips a wonderful cross onto the head of Ronaldo, but his header hits the post! Stunning build-up there!
Another half-chance for Benzema as the Frenchman attempts to send a strike back from where it came from after meeting a cross from Bale, but Lux is on hand to make the save. Deportivo continue to commit players forward down the other end, but gaps are starting to appear at the back!
Ronaldo again dances away from his full-back in a wide position, but his strike was always moving over the crossbar. A third for the home team and surely Deportivo would not be able to respond.
Well, it has been a strong first 45 minutes for Real Madrid, but they have given Deportivo some encouragement at the back and you sense that the visitors feel that they are still in the game.
A dangerous corner causes problems inside the Real Madrid box, but Arribas cannot wriggle away from Pepe and produce a touch that would surely have found the back of the net!
HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Deportivo
So there we have it. The two teams head down the tunnel with Real Madrid leading 2-0 courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale. It has been a solid first-half performance from the home team, but Deportivo have had their moments, with Perez looking very dangerous in the final third.
STATS! Real Madrid have shaded the possession with 56%, while they have had 11 attempts - four of which have been on target. As for Deportivo, they have had nine attempts and three on target. Somewhat surprisingly, there has not been a single yellow card thus far at the Bernabeu.
BENCH WATCH! Zidane has an embarrassment of riches on his bench this evening, with the likes of Jese, Lucas, James Rodriguez and Casemiro all available. Deportivo, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Dominguez, Jonas and Riera. Plenty of talent on both benches!
MATCH PIC!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Deportivo find a route back into this match? It is the hosts that resume the action in Madrid...
... REAL MADRID SUB! Raphael Varane replaces Ramos at the break.
... DEPORTIVO SUB! Jonas enters in place of Fede for the away side.
So there we have it. Both managers have made changes at the break. Ramos cannot seem to shake off a shoulder problem at the moment, while Fede also seemed to pick up a knock in that first period. Will it change anything? Deportivo really cannot afford to concede a third goal here.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Deportivo (Bale)
What a wonderful goal that is! Real Madrid have their third as Ronaldo delivers onto the boot of Bale, who angles his effort into the bottom corner. Super finish from the Welshman, who has two.
Deportivo entered this match having only lost three league games this season, well that is going to become four unless this match is abandoned for some reason. Real Madrid are heading for a vital three points here, but they will remain third in the table behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid have James Rodriguez, Danilo and Jese Rodriguez all warming up at the moment - not exactly the news that Deportivo would have wanted. Fresh legs against a team that has hardly had the ball in the second period. The home supporters are enjoying their team's performance here.
Deportivo manage to regain the ball in the middle of the park, but Mosquera's deflected effort goes behind for a corner, which Real Madrid clear. Still a three-goal separation in this match.
A strong challenge from Navarro leaves Carvajal on the deck, but it does appear that the right-back will be fit to continue. Zidane is still on the touchline, prowling with a serious look.
Real Madrid might be winning 3-0, but Ronaldo is not best pleased at the moment because he is not on the scoresheet. The Portuguese then takes a strong challenge from Juanfran, which the referee says was fair. The visitors continue to commit players in the final third of the field.
Ronaldo is having one of those nights in front of goal as he fires over. The Portuguese set up Bale's second with a super cross from the right, but he was not exactly too thrilled...
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Deportivo (Bale)
Hat-trick Bale! The Welshman has his third of the evening as he rises inside the box to power a Kroos corner into the back of the net. It his second header of the night - what a finish!
Bale then fires over from distance as the Welshman continues to dominate this game!
REAL MADRID SUB! James Rodriguez replaces Isco.
DEPORTIVO SUBS! Riera and Luisinho replace Navarro and Fajr.
Carvajal has been unable to shake off that knock and might have to be replaced here. Bale has slipped into the right-back role, but he still bursts forward and delivers yet another cross.
Jonas works a yard of space outside the Real Madrid box, but his low strike was never really troubling Navas, who dropped to the floor to make the save. Still 4-0 to the home side here.
BOOKING! Arribas (Deportivo) is booked for a foul on Benzema.
MATCH PIC! It has been Bale's night tonight...
Ronaldo really wants a goal here and again takes it upon himself to drive from distance, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper. Down the other end, Deportivo had a penalty shout when Carvajal seemed to handle inside the box, but it would have been a little harsh in my view.
REAL MADRID SUB! Bale is replaced by Jese Rodriguez.
Half-chance for the away side as Mosquera controls a loose ball outside the box, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. Still 4-0 with little under 15 minutes of football to play here.
You sense that there might be at least one more goal in this match as Deportivo continue to commit players forward, which is leaving space for the likes of Jese, James and Ronaldo. I think that you know you have a good team when Varane, James and Jese cannot make the first XI.
SAVE! Navas flies across his goal to keep out a strike from Alberto.
CHANCE! Ronaldo is still searching for a goal after passing up another good chance. Modric slides a pass into the attacker, but his low effort just fizzes across the goal!
Varane is perhaps a shade fortunate to get away with a potential handball inside the box and the resulting corner eventually falls for Juanfran, but his strike was always moving high and wide.
Ronaldo throws his arms in the air as the flag is raised once again.
Jese has been lively since entering the field and he shows wonderful feet in a wide position, but his low strike is deflected wide of the post. Real Madrid still looking for more goals in this game.
CHANCES! Incredible chance for Deportivo to score as Alberto finds all sorts of space inside the Real Madrid box before squaring to Perez, but the striker takes too long and Pepe is on hand to make the clearance. Down the other end, Ronaldo fires a Marcelo cross wide of the target!
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-0 Deportivo (Benzema)
Ronaldo looks certain to score for Real Madrid after a cut-back from Jese, but the attacker cannot slip two defenders. Benzema, however, is on the scene to fire home off the crossbar! Wow!
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 5-0 Deportivo
So there we have it. Real Madrid hit five on Zidane's managerial debut. Gareth Bale scored three times for the hosts, while Karim Benzema netted twice as Los Blancos ran riot against Deportivo at the Bernabeu. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action once again. Until next time!
