Played
September 30, 2012 1:50 PM EDT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee: Miguel Ayza
Attendance: 65000
September 30, 2012 1:50 PM EDT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee: Miguel Ayza
Attendance: 65000
Top of the Match
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Flop of the Match
Manuel Pablo
Deportivo
Deportivo
Manuel Pablo
Deportivo
Deportivo
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Real Madrid 5-1 Deportivo: Ronaldo hat trick continues Los Blancos revival
Los Blancos registered their third win on a trot after Cristiano Ronaldo struck three to ensure his side continued its recovery after an early season blip.
By Rupert Fryer
Getty Images
Real Madrid continued its La Liga resurgence after their early season struggles thanks to goals from Angel Di Maria, Pepe and a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo.
With one eye on the Champions League clash with Ajax in midweek, Jose Morinho made four changes to the side that claimed Los Blancos’ first away win of the season against Rayo Vallecano last week.
Sami Khedira returned to the midfield in place of Xabi Alonso and the German showed his early joy at a recall by out muscling his opponent in midfield to play in Cristiano Ronaldo for the first real chance of the game after 10 minutes.
Alvaro Arbeloa dropped to the bench as Sergio Ramos went to right back to make way for Raphael Varane, and the young Frenchman will be disappointed with how easily he allowed Riki to skip away and poke past Iker Casillas to give Depor a shock lead after 15 minutes.
However the home side was level less than 10 minutes later when Di Maria beat Manuel Pablo on the right before the veteran brought him down right on the edge of the box. Referee Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez deemed the incident to have taken place inside the area, and Ronaldo stepped up to calmly stroke home the equaliser.
36-year-old Pablo was made to endure a torrid time, with Di Maria and Ronaldo swapping flanks as Madrid repeatedly hit long diagonal passes in behind the former Spain international. It was a ball inside the fullback that saw Di Maria put the home side ahead.
With Mesut Ozil coming returning to the side for the injured Michael Essien, Luka Modric took up a deeper role than he did last week and the two combined before the Croatian played a perfectly weighted pass inside Pablo for Di Maria. The Argentinian saw his initial effort come back off the post, but followed up to head home from close range.
Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the evening five minute later, heading into an empty net after Ramos saw his shot parried up into the air by Aranzubia.
Kaka also returned to the squad after netting a hat trick in a midweek friendly against Millonarios on Wednesday, and he replaced Ozil to make his first appearance league of the season at halftime after the German’s work rate was deemed unsatisfactory by Mourinho. It wasn’t a vintage performance from the Brazilian but the recall will no doubt be a confident boost for the 30-year-old who looked to be on his way out of Madrid, especially when coupled with his return to the international fold this past week.
Xabi Alonso, who was the only outfield player at Madrid to have played every minute of the season so far prior to this evening, replaced Modric on the hour mark, and less than 10 minutes later the Spain international’s free kick found Pepe unmarked to make it four.
Ronaldo completed his hat trick with eight minutes remaining, converting his second spot kick of the night after Kaka’s attempted cross had struck Evaldo’s hand inside the area.
Follow GOAL.COM USA on
With one eye on the Champions League clash with Ajax in midweek, Jose Morinho made four changes to the side that claimed Los Blancos’ first away win of the season against Rayo Vallecano last week.
Sami Khedira returned to the midfield in place of Xabi Alonso and the German showed his early joy at a recall by out muscling his opponent in midfield to play in Cristiano Ronaldo for the first real chance of the game after 10 minutes.
Alvaro Arbeloa dropped to the bench as Sergio Ramos went to right back to make way for Raphael Varane, and the young Frenchman will be disappointed with how easily he allowed Riki to skip away and poke past Iker Casillas to give Depor a shock lead after 15 minutes.
However the home side was level less than 10 minutes later when Di Maria beat Manuel Pablo on the right before the veteran brought him down right on the edge of the box. Referee Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez deemed the incident to have taken place inside the area, and Ronaldo stepped up to calmly stroke home the equaliser.
36-year-old Pablo was made to endure a torrid time, with Di Maria and Ronaldo swapping flanks as Madrid repeatedly hit long diagonal passes in behind the former Spain international. It was a ball inside the fullback that saw Di Maria put the home side ahead.
With Mesut Ozil coming returning to the side for the injured Michael Essien, Luka Modric took up a deeper role than he did last week and the two combined before the Croatian played a perfectly weighted pass inside Pablo for Di Maria. The Argentinian saw his initial effort come back off the post, but followed up to head home from close range.
Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the evening five minute later, heading into an empty net after Ramos saw his shot parried up into the air by Aranzubia.
Kaka also returned to the squad after netting a hat trick in a midweek friendly against Millonarios on Wednesday, and he replaced Ozil to make his first appearance league of the season at halftime after the German’s work rate was deemed unsatisfactory by Mourinho. It wasn’t a vintage performance from the Brazilian but the recall will no doubt be a confident boost for the 30-year-old who looked to be on his way out of Madrid, especially when coupled with his return to the international fold this past week.
Xabi Alonso, who was the only outfield player at Madrid to have played every minute of the season so far prior to this evening, replaced Modric on the hour mark, and less than 10 minutes later the Spain international’s free kick found Pepe unmarked to make it four.
Ronaldo completed his hat trick with eight minutes remaining, converting his second spot kick of the night after Kaka’s attempted cross had struck Evaldo’s hand inside the area.
Follow GOAL.COM USA on
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
46 | 4 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
34 | 6 |
|
Radamel Falcao Striker Atlético de Madrid |
28 | 8 |
|
Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia |
21 | 5 |
|
Negredo Striker Sevilla |
20 | 3 |
