An extraordinary performance from Isco helped Real Madrid put the nightmare of Sunday’s Clasico loss in the past and earn a 6-2 victory over Deportivo on Wednesday night at the Estadio Riazor in La Coruna.
The three points keeps Real level on points with first-place Barcelona in the La Liga table, although Real still have a match in hand and control their own destiny in the title race.
James Rodriguez had a brace, while Alvaro Morata, Lucas Vazquez, Isco and substitute Casemiro also had goals in another strong attacking display from Los Blancos.
Leading the way was Isco, who assisted on the Morata goal and set the table for two others before scoring one of his own. The former Malaga and Valencia man continues to make the most of his chances, as do the rest of Real’s offensive reserves who featured on Wednesday, such as Marco Asensio, James and Lucas Vazquez.
Manager Zinedine Zidane made a whole host of changes from the team that fell in Sunday’s Clasico, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos the notable absences as the German midfielder and Portuguese forward were left off the 18-man matchday roster in order to rest.
Only Nacho and Marcelo were the hold-overs from the Clasico, as Kiko Casilla was slotted into goal, while Danilo and injury returnee Raphael Varane protected the right side of the Real defence. The midfield and attack all had new faces, with Mateo Kovacic, James and Isco forming the middle and Lucas Vazquez, Asensio and Morata up top.
A minute had not even elapsed before Real got on the scoreboard through Morata. Danilo dispossessed Kakuta, found Isco, who then led Morata in with a pass and the former Juventus man did the rest, hammering in a shot past Lux to make it 1-0 to Real.
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Real continued to bombard Lux in the Deportivo goal. Both Isco and Asensio had shots graze the post, while Morata had an attempt from point-blank range saved. But there was nothing the Argentine goalkeeper could do to prevent James doubling the lead, as the Colombian played a nifty one-two combination with Lucas Vazquez and finished with aplomb for a 2-0 lead.
Marcelo could have felt aggrieved after appearing to give Real a 3-0, however the linesman ruled the Brazilian offside even though replays showed otherwise. Still, it was all Real, even if Lucas Vazquez and Morata failed to finish when played in one-on-one with Lux.
Real’s profligacy in front of goal would come back to haunt them though, as Deportivo got themselves back into it when a deflected cross fell for Kakuta, who found an unmarked Andone in front of goal and it was an easy re-direct into net for the Depor No.10 to make it a 2-1 match.
The Riazor came alive with the goal, and pushed their side forward. They were on the verge of a second celebration when Carles Gil rocketed a shot goalward, but Casilla was alert and dove to his right for the save. That was followed by a Sidnei header that had Casilla beat but trickled wide of the post.
Real looked to wrestle back momentum and right before half-time they got a big goal from Lucas Vazquez, who pounced on a loose ball in front of a goal after some exceptional work from Isco and a deep cross from Marcelo, allowing Zidane to work with a 3-1 advantage heading into the break.
Lux had suffered a blow to the head during the first-half, so as a precaution Depor boss Pepe Mel wisely substituted off his No.1 and brought on back-up Tyton.
The start to the second-half was not as nearly frenetic as in the first 45 minutes, but of the two Real were on the front foot and closest to a goal. A counter-attack spearheaded by Asensio should have ended with Lucas Vazquez’s second goal of the night, but the shot flashed wide.
But the way Real were playing a goal was just a question of time, and it came off the left boot of James. The Colombian collected a pass from Morata after the striker received a surgical pass from Isco and rounded Tyton, and swept an easy shot into goal, handing Real a 4-1 lead and effectively sealing the three points for the visitors from the capital.
It was then only fitting for Isco to find the back of the net, as he thundered in a one-timer off a ball across from Lucas Vazquez to extend the lead to 5-1.
However, Zidane likely left the pitch with a slightly sour taste in his mouth as his defence was breached late when Joselu spun a header in past Casilla to make it a 5-2 contest.
Nevertheless, Real were not quite done flexing their scoring muscles and substitute Casemiro scored for the second match in a row with a shot from distance that beat Tyton to complete the 6-2 scoreline.
Real return to action on Saturday at home versus Valencia.
Match Sheet:
2.- Deportivo: Lux (Tyton, min. 46); Juanfran, Arribas, Sidnei, Luisinho; Bergantinos, Guilherme, Carles Gil (Joselu, min. 57), Emre, Kakuta (Fernando Navarro, min. 46), Andone.
6.- Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Varane (Tejero, min. 88), Nacho, Marcelo; Kovacic, James, Isco (Casemiro, min. 79); Lucas Vazquez, Asensio (Mariano, min. 79), Morata
Goals: 0-1, min. 1: Morata; 0-2, min. 14: James; 1-2, min. 35: Andone; 1-3, min. 45: Lucas Vazquez; 1-4, min. 66: James; 1-5, min. 77: Isco; 2-5, min. 84: Joselu; 2-6, min. 87: Casemiro
Referee: Sanchez Martinez (Murcia). Yellow Cards: Arribas (Min. 68) for Deportivo, Isco (Min. 69) for Real Madrid
Red cards: None
Stadium: Riazor
Attendance: 34,600
