Bale and Ronaldo help fire rampant Real Madrid to first league win of 2018
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Updated 21/01/2018 at 18:01 GMT
La Liga, Bernabeu - Real Madrid 7 (Nacho 32', 88', Bale 42', 58', Modric 68', Ronaldo 78', 84') Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Adrian 23')
Гарет Бэйл и Криштиану Роналду
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Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nacho all hit doubles as Real Madrid came from behind to complete a 7-1 rout of struggling Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu.
Pressure had been building on Zinedine Zidane and the capital club following a string of dismal results, leaving them 19 points adrift of leaders Barcelona at the top of La Liga. But after falling behind to an early goal from Adrian Lopez, Real Madrid turned in a statement performance.
Bale was the main man for the hosts, scoring the goal that put his side ahead following Nacho’s equaliser. Luka Modric also found the net, with Ronaldo making up for a number of earlier spurned chances with a double of his own.
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Gareth Bale of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their third goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Deportivo La Coruna at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2018 in Madrid, Spain
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Ronaldo didn’t finish the match after sustaining a head injury in the scoring of his second goal, taking a boot to the face as he guided a diving header into the bottom corner of the net.
But by that time Real Madrid had already claimed a win to leapfrog Villarreal into fourth and reduce the deficit on Barca to 16 points ahead of the Catalans clash with Real Betis this evening.
TALKING POINT - Will the return of the BBC revive Real Madrid?
Not since April last year had Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo all played on the same pitch for Real Madrid before today. It only lasted 15 minutes or so, with Bale subbed off after Benzema had been brought on, but the spark was there for those 15 minutes.
Benzema didn’t find the net himself, but with the French striker on the pitch Real Madrid looked more dangerous, more fluid. So could the return of the BBC revive Zidane’s side? Stranger things have happened.
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Cristiano Ronaldo suffers injury
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH - Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
He might have been injured for the majority of the campaign, but Bale is now Real Madrid’s top scorer in La Liga this season. A number of conclusions can be drawn from that, but it illustrates just how important the Welshman has become to the Spanish and European champions. This was a performance which underlined his quality. There’s a case to be made that Bale is now Real’s best player.
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid - Navas 5, Carvajal 7, Nacho 8, Varane 5, Marcelo 7, Casemiro 7, Kroos 7, Modric 8, Ronaldo 7, Bale 9, Mayoral 5. Subs - Benzema 7, Kovacic 5, Vazquez 6.
Deportivo La Coruna - Martinez 7, Juanfran 5, Schar 6, One 5, Luisinho 6, Guilherme 6, Mosquera 5, Celso 5, Perez 7, Adrian 7, Andone 5. Subs - Colak 5, Gil 4, Exposito 4.
KEY MOMENTS
- 23’ GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Deportivo La Coruna: The visitors have taken the lead at the Bernabeu! Real Madrid's defence went to sleep, allowing Perez in behind. He found Lopez at the back post, who had the easy finish into the empty net.
- 30’ OFF THE POST! That was very nearly an equaliser for the home side. Marcelo fires off a low shot, with Ruben making the save. But it wriggles through the keeper and strikes the post.
- 32’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna: Real Madrid have found an equaliser! Nacho plays a pass through to Marcelo, who plays it back to the defender. He finds the bottom corner with a measured finish.
- 42’ GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo La Coruna: That is fantastic from Bale! The ball was clipped into the box, Ronaldo wanted a penalty for a tackle, but Bale picks up the cross, shifts it to the left side and whips a finish into the far corner off the inside of the post.
- 57’ SENSATIONAL SAVE! Casemiro couldn't have done any more. He powered a header towards goal from close range, but Ruben pushed up a hand to make the save to deny him.
- 58’ GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Deportivo La Coruna: Bale has given Real Madrid a two-goal cushion! He lept highest to get on the end of a delivery into the penalty area and glanced a header past Ruben, who was left helpless.
- 68’ GOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna: Modric has added his name to the score sheet for Real Madrid! Ronaldo flicked the ball to the Croatian midfielder, who guided a right-footed finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
- 70’ ANDONE SHOULD HAVE SCORED! Perez fires a cross into the six yard box, with the save from Navas falling to Andone. But the Deportivo attacker scuffs his shot over the bar.
- 71’ OFF THE LINE! Real Madrid get caught out playing out from the back, with Andone beating Navas with a low shot. But Nacho got back to make a sensational sliding clearance off the line.
- 78’ GOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Deportivo La Coruna: Ronaldo has finally found the back of the net! Casemiro finds the Portuguese forward completely unmarked at the back post and he makes no mistake in firing high into the roof of the net.
- 83’ RONALDO GOAL IS CHALKED OFF! Bale once again gets the better of his markers, firing a low cross into the box. Ronaldo finishes it, but the flag is up for offside. Correct decision.
- 84’ GOAL! Real Madrid 6-1 Deportivo La Coruna: Ronaldo has well and truly broken his scoring duck now! The Portuguese forward threw himself at the cross from Vazquez and powered a diving header into the bottom corner of the net.
- 85’ LOTS OF BLOOD! Ronaldo has taken a blow to the face after that goal. He took a boot in head and blood is gushing. The Portuguese forward is going to have to receive treatment here.
- 88’ GOAL! Real Madrid 7-1 Deportivo La Coruna: And now Nacho has scored his second of the game! The defender was up from the back, controlled a cross and swivelled to fire a low drive past the goalkeeper. He's got himself a brace!
KEY STATS
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored and assisted in a La Liga game for the first time this season.
- 11 out of Luka Modric’s 13 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions have been scored from outside the box.
- Gareth Bale has scored five goals in 2018, more than any other La Liga player (in all competitions).
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