BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Real Madrid needed goals from Francisco “Isco” Alarcon and Karim Benzema to beat a determined Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 and ensure they remained the Spanish football league leaders on Saturday.
Eager to make up for its humiliating 4-0 loss at Atletico Madrid in the last round, Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both hit the goal frame before Isco opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.
“It was difficult after the blow we received last week,” Isco said. “But this team has bounced back from worse situations. A dose of humility served us well.”
Fragile in defence, Deportivo remained dangerous going forward and was stopped only by the woodwork and Iker Casillas’ goalkeeping.
Madrid had yet to muster a shot on goal in the second half when Benzema secured the result in the 73rd, two minutes after Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva made his Madrid debut as a substitute.
Madrid lead Barcelona by a provisional four points. The Catalan club host Levante on Sunday when defending champion Atletico, trailing the pacesetters by seven, visit Celta Vigo.
Sevilla beat Cordoba 3-0 in a one-sided match in Seville, where both teams ended with ten men, giving them overnight control of fourth place. Cordoba fell into last place after ten-man Granada drew 0-0 at home with Athletic Bilbao.
Espanyol also finished a man down but goalkeeper Kiko Casilla saved a late penalty in a 2-0 victory at Malaga, as both stayed in the upper half of the standings.