Thanks for coming!
There was a late flurry of goals and typing there. Can Real Betis v Barcelona live up to that? Probably not, but you can still join me later for it.
Well, the worries were quickly forgotten after Depor took a shock lead. Bale and Modric were superb for Real and Ronaldo had some good moments but certainly did not look at his best. Also...Zidane might have a decision to make over whether Sergio Ramos comes back into the team to replace Nacho who scored two and looked confident at the back.
Full-time: Real Madrid 7-1 Deportivo
It was all going so well for Depor until Real Madrid scored seven. Zidane’s side were on top throughout and their attacking talent showed what it is made of, which is good news going forward. Bale and Ronaldo were in fine form and Benzema made a difference once he’d replaced Mayoral.
90+1 min: There’s three minutes to be added on.
Anyway...Ronaldo made the doctor give him his phone so he could witness the catastrophic nick that he suffered in getting his second. What a time to be alive.
GOAL! A Kroos corner is flicked over to Nacho waiting at the back post where he turns on the ball in the area and fires a shot across Ruben for his second of the game.
GOAL! Real Madrid 7-1 Deportivo (Nacho, 88)
THE CRISIS IS OVER!
88 min: Carvajal tries to get in on the act and he latches onto a pass over the top and volleys it at goal, only for Ruben to palm it away.
86 min: Ronaldo has just wandered off as there is no point him being on in these circumstances.
GOAL! Vazquez gets space on the right and clips one for Ronaldo to perform a fine diving header for his second. On the downside, he got a big kick in the face and he is now quite bloody, which is unfortunate. It was very brave from Ronaldo and he took the kick with good humour.
GOAL! Real Madrid 6-1 Deportivo (Ronaldo, 84)
A second for Ronaldo!
NO GOAL! Ronaldo taps in a Bale cross but the assistant referee sticks his flag up immediately, much to the annoyance of the Portuguese. Vazquez is now on for Bale who is denied the opportunity of a hat-trick.
Not a bad footballer...
11 - 11 out of Luka Modrić’s 13 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions have been scored from outside the box (84.6%). Bomber. pic.twitter.com/4W8ykl3QFJ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 21, 2018
GOAL! Ronaldo can stop his sulking now after Real worked the ball out wide for Casemiro to find one of many players in the box but it is Ronaldo who gets on the end of it to tap in the fifth from a yard. He almost celebrated.
78: Real Madrid 5-1 Deportivo (Ronaldo, 78)
Ronaldo finally gets a goal.
75 min: Marcelo gets the better of Juanfran once again but his cross is straight to Ruben who gets up with a grimace. Modric is heading off and Kovacic is on.
72 min: Ronaldo still does not have a goal to his name after taking down a cross from Marcelo but instead of volleying into the back of the net, he drags it wide with his left foot from eight yards. Not exactly clinical.
Better than Ronaldo...
5 - Gareth Bale has scored five goals in 2018, more than any other La Liga player in all competitions. Express. pic.twitter.com/JpF08WuzJy
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 21, 2018
69 min: Depor should have one back after Navas palmed the ball into the path of Andone who whacks the ball over from a few yards while the goalkeeper was still on the ground. The Romanian beats Navas moments later but Nacho comes in to clear the ball off the line.
GOAL! Real counter on Depor as Bale takes the ball down the right, lays it off to Ronaldo who does a lovely, subtle flick into the path of Modric who calmly curls in the fourth from 20 yards.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Deportivo (Modric, 68)
What a team goal!
67 min: Varane and Andone clash as the Frenchman intercepts a pass, resulting in a free-kick to the Frenchman.
66 min: Ruben is being treated for a thigh injury. Will we get to see Pantilimon? I do hope so.
65 min: The BBC are playing together for the first time in the league this season and it almost results in a goal as Benzema plays in Ronaldo but his curling shot goes a couple of yards wide.
64 min: Benzema returns! And Mayoral is off after not really doing anything. Poor lad.
63 min: Bale does a few stepovers before lifting a cross to the back post for Mayoral to head into an empty net but he nods it wide instead.
62 min: Andone gets the other side of the Real defence but they chase him down forcing him to pull the ball back for a midfielder and the moves break down.
GOAL! Ruben’s save counts for nothing as Kroos puts the ball on Bale’s head after the Welshman finds space in the box from the corner in order to calmly head the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Deportivo (Bale, 58)
A great header from Bale.
58 min: Kroos chips a cross to Casemiro flying in at the back post but his header from three yards is expertly save by Ruben.
Why did you do it Ronnie?
See that splat/broken bit on advertising board? Ronaldo just did that. pic.twitter.com/5pF3MkG3hQ
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) January 21, 2018
56 min: Ronaldo chases a through ball but he’s offside, so shows his frustrations by kicking the ball away. Grow up, mate.
53 min: Real Madrid are starting off where they finished the last half as Ronaldo leads the attack, lays the ball off to a marauding Marcelo but his cross is just too quick for Mayoral who dives in but cannot make contact. Celso Borges heads off for Depor and Colak comes on.
52 min: Modric and Mayoral link up on the edge of the area but the Spaniard falls over before getting the ball back. Bale then crossed for the Croatian who fires his shot just wide.
50 min: Kroos sends a wonderful ball out to Carvajal who takes it down wonderfully in the area and pulls it back for Ronaldo but Schar gets in their quickly, forcing the Real man to push him in the back.
48 min: Mosquera is wandering off after his long pass knacks his hamstring. He would never have been able to play for Wimbledon. Edu is on.
47 min: Depor’s plan might be to go more direct in this half for Andone to chase and to turn Varane. It might not work, but it looks moire effective than slowly passing the ball around.
Kick-off: Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo
Peep peep! Here we go again!
Cristiano Ronaldo gives everyone a high five in the tunnel as he just bloody loves Real Madrid.
Red card Ramos is not for Sid...
Honestly, right now I wouldn't put Ramos back in the team ahead of Nacho
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) January 21, 2018
If anyone is giving Depor a chance of coming back into this, please email in so I can debate if I know anything anymore.
The official view from Spain...
Depor give ball away quite easily, passing loose, not looking good
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) January 21, 2018
Real Madrid are obviously IN CRISIS but they have looked good today - they have passed the ball well from back to front and have made enough chances to win three or four games. The goal conceded was avoidable but it’s all been Real Madrid for the rest of the half and Depor do not look like they will be able to change things much in the second.
GOALS! GOALS! GOALS!
3 - La Liga defenders with the most goals scored since last season (all comps):
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 21, 2018
Sergio Ramos 11
Diego Llorente 8
NACHO FERNÁNDEZ 6
Polyvalent. pic.twitter.com/QRNAzTLdZA
Half-time: Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo
Apart from the 15 seconds it took for Depor to complete the move which resulted in their opener, it really has been all Real who have been dominant. They should be out of sight considering how much of the ball they have seen and the chances they have made. Nacho took his goal well and Bale’s strike was sublime, now they just need to get the job done.
45 min: Lucas tries to go around Nacho but gets nowhere down the right flank. I can’t see anyone backing Depor to get back into this game.
GOAL! It had been coming ever since the equaliser. After Ronaldo had gone down under pressure from Luisinho, everyone seemed to forget that the ball was at Bale’s feet, who cut in onto his left and curled one into the top corner form 15 yards. It was a stunning strike from the Welshman.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo (Bale, 42)
What a strike from Bale!
41 min: Depor have enjoyed some possession here but it never looks like it will lead to a chance. Real Madrid get the ball back and try to break up the other end but Bale failed to find Ronaldo with a pass and the move breaks down.
38 min: It’s all kicking off now after Casemiro is fouled by Andone after the Romanian lunged in on the Brazilian. The striker was very much booked for his illegal activities.
35 min: Kroos lifts the ball to Bale who tries to head it back to Mayoral who is just beaten to the ball by Schar, who is having a great game for Depor.
34 min: Carvajal dinks a cross from the right which lands on the head of Modric who can only nod the ball straight at Ruben. Depor really need to move up the pitch.
GOAL! Real Madrid take a quick corner, resulting in Marcelo pulling the ball back into the box for Nacho, who has a bucket load of space from where to side-foot into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Deportivo (Nacho, 32)
And there is the equaliser.
30 min: Marcelo slips through the Depor defence and smashes a low shot at the front post, which Ruben flicks onto the post and the ball kindly ends up in the goalkeeper’s arms. The equaliser is coming...
28 min: Almost an equaliser for Real after Marcelo lifted one to the back post for Ronaldo who directed a powerful header at goal but Ruben performs heroics to tip the ball away and Schar gets to the rebound to send it behind before Mayoral can tap into an empty net.
26 min: Now Depor are going to somehow challenge themselves to get even deeper. It almost costs them as Bale sticks one up to the back post where Marcelo is waiting to volley the ball back across goal but wide.
It’s all gone!
@Will_Unwin La Liga gone, CL qualification, CDelR & CL 2 play 4,every game 4 Real here on in is a final. Unusual situation but this is when you need your BGP’s 2 start earning their wages. Huge games coming v PSG lose & there’ll be hell 2 pay & Perez will wield the axe rightly so
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) January 21, 2018
GOAL! It was all very easy for Depor as Andone flicked on a throw-in down the flank for Lucas to chase, the Arsenal loanee took the ball into the box and sent it across for Adrian to tap it home from a matter of yards. The Bernabeu is now silent.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Deportivo (Adrian, 23)
A shock opener for the visitors!
21 min: The referee has pulled back play after Andone lads badly when challenging for an header with Casemiro but he seems to be OK now.
19 min: Mayoral is not getting into the game as he would have liked but neither are Ronaldo and Bale, so he should not worry too much until the inevitable substitutions are made.
17 min: All gone a little quiet at the Bernabeu as Depor break with Andone chasing a long pass down the pitch but Casemiro tracks the Romanian and dispossesses him just in time.
15 min: At the back for Depor is Steve Aldo One who must be enjoying his debut against the might of Real Madrid. He has some English in his name, can Southgate claim him?
13 min: Kroos swings in a free-kick from the left but Schar beats everyone in the air and the ball eventually heads out for a corner.
12 min: Real Madrid are happy to start deep and create sweeping moves forward which they have done on a number of occasions so far without finding that killer final ball. Lots of cross have been cleared or collected by Ruben.
10 min: Turns out Marcelo went down holding his face as the breeze coming from Andone jogging past the Brazilian was like a brick to the face. The poor lad.
8 min: Depor enjoy sojourn up the pitch when Andone gets into the box but his cross is blocked and Real manage to scramble it away. It could be at a cost as Marcelo has hobbled away from the situation.
6 min: The next former Spurs man to find space and put in a cross is Modric who sends in a low ball to Mayoral whose first-time shot forces Ruben into a decent save down to his right.
4 min: Bale and Ronaldo combine as the Welshman does some jiggery pokery on the right to throw off a couple of defenders before swinging in a cross to Ronaldo who heads it well over.
3 min: Real Madrid have barely relinquished possession in the opening few moments here. Could be a long old game for Depor who are playing a very deep 4-5-1.
1 min: Depor do their best to concede in the first few seconds as Schar sends a short backpass to Ruben who just manages to clear before Real get to the ball.
Kick-off: Real Madrid v Deportivo
Peep peep! We’re off after some singing in the stands, so it must be a football match.
A new record coming our way?
2 - Real Madrid have been shut out in their last two La Liga games at the Santiago Bernabéu - they have never gone three consecutive home matches without scoring. Pressure. pic.twitter.com/FxiHicV7ku
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 21, 2018
Real Madrid are currently 19 points behind Barcelona which must really hurt. It cannot be sustainable for Zidane, so they really need the win today in order to make it less embarrassing.
Now Depor have some hope...
Depor coach Cristobal was on Barca team which drew at Bernabeu in 91/92. And won here with Oviedo in 93/94 and Espanyol in 95/96. Long time ago etc.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) January 21, 2018
Oh...if you want to send your views on the football or your Sunday roast details, then feel free to on the email address and Twitter handle provided above.
The snow is falling across London but it looks like a delightfully crisp day for football in the Spanish capital, which can only be good news for all of us hiding from the cold.
Depor can boast Arsenal loanee Lucas Perez in their ranks. The Spaniard has scored five times in 18 games this season but not in any of his last seven outings. Will today be the day he stops the rot? Probably not.
Real Madrid are warming up in a relaxing manner...
➡️⚽️🔥 #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/8FnKXIMr9U
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 21, 2018
As it is a week of denying stuff in Madrid, Zidane has also distanced himself from Neymar, which is not much of a surprise.
“I won’t speak about players who aren’t mine. The whole footballing world likes Neymar, he’s a great player,” Zidane said.
Updated
Zinedine Zidane, after winning five trophies in a year, has now been forced to say he will not walk away from Real Madrid. But why would anyone?
“I don’t think about negative things, only positive,” Zidane said at his pre-match press conference.
“We will find positive things. I’m never going to throw in the towel. I’m going to continue fighting as I’ve always shown and I’m not going to quit ever. “
Ronaldo and Bale start but Benzema is left on the bench, so the BBC are not back together yet. Borja Mayoral gets a chance to stake his claim for a starting place in the long-term but it does not look like he will ever be a permanent first choice at the Bernabeu.
To add to the general bad news at Real Madrid, it looks like Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to turn down the chance to join the European champions in order to stay at the San Mames, much to Zinedine Zidane’s chagrin.
Starting line-ups: Real Madrid v Deportivo
Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Bale, Ronaldo, Mayoral.
Subs: Casilla, Benzema, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Vazquez, Asensio, Isco, Kovacic.
Deportivo: Ruben, Juanfran, Schar, One, Luisinho, Guilherme, Celso Borges, Mosquera, Adrian, Lucas, Andone.
Subs: Pantilimon, Navarro, Colak, Carles Gil, Bakkali, Borja Valle, Edu Exposito.
Updated
Preamble
Buenos dias!
Real Madrid are in fifth place in the league, which is pretty embarrassing for the all-conquering giants. Zinedine Zidane’s position is under question and Cristiano Ronaldo is doing his annual batting of the eyelids towards anyone will listen but at the same time ignore that he is nowhere near his best. They have not won any of their last three league games and face a tough test in the Champions League soon against Paris Saint-Germain.
It is not all doom and gloom for Real as Depor are coming to town and they are even worse. They currently sit in 18th place and will face a long second half of the season trying to stay up. The arrival of right-back Eneko Boveda will not do much to inspire fans but at least they are looking to improve.
No new signings for Real are in the offing but Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are all available for once. Surely they cannot lose to Depor...
Updated
