Real Madrid opened a four-point lead at the summit of La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The game began at breakneck speed and Iker Casillas had to produce a reaction save to prevent Isaac Cuenca from giving the visitors a seventh minute lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo then went close with an overhead kick before hitting the bar with another attempt a few moments later.
Gareth Bale then rattled the woodwork with a powerful drive as Madrid cranked up the pressure, with Karim Benzema also going close.
Midway through the first half, Isco put Los Blancos a goal ahead with a curling finish after Ronaldo had uncharacteristically miscued a shot from close range.
Two minutes after the opener, Ronaldo was presented with the chance to double Real’s lead with a free kick on the edge of the box, but he sent it straight into the hands of Fabricio.
Celso Borges almost drew Deportivo level three minutes after the interval as he collected a quickly taken free kick and cracked a shot towards goal, but it cannoned back off the foot of the post.
The European champions struggled to create many openings against the well orgainsde visitors, but eventually doubled their tally in the 73rd minute when Benzema scooped Ronaldo’s pass over the outstretching hands of Fabricio.
Bale forced a good save from Fabrico late on before Ronaldo scuffed his lines from close range, but Real saw out the game comfortably and registered the much needed win after their 4-0 humiliation in the Madrid derby last time out.
