All that glitters
UNCONVINCING
MADRID: Real Madrid returned to winning ways on Saturday after last week’s drubbing at Atlético Madrid but failed to convince and were whistled by their own fans during a 2-0 victory at home to Deportivo La Coruña.
Real were looking for an inspiring performance before Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Germany to play Schalke and were fortunate not to drop points with another drab display following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderón.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale each struck the crossbar at the Bernabéu before Isco curled a shot into the corner of the net to fire the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute.
Deportivo, who are 12th in the table after coming back up from the second division last season, created good chances and should have levelled four minutes into the second half.
The midfielder Celso Borges thumped a shot against the post when well placed in the penalty area and Oriol Riera forced a fine save from Iker Casillas with a glancing header moments later.
Some disgruntled Real fans, who whistled when the names of the head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, and the captain, Casillas, were read out before kick-off, were growing increasingly restless before Karim Benzema dinked a shot over Fabri, the onrushing Deportivo goalkeeper, and into the net 17 minutes from time.
The victory, in which Real’s new signing Lucas Silva made his debut 20 minutes from time, put the world and European champions four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who play at home to struggling Levante on Sunday.
COACH NOT WORRIED Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is not worried by Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent sharp drop in form as the holders prepare to play at Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Ronaldo made a blistering start to the season and looked well on the way to breaking the record for La Liga goals in one campaign of 50 set by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi in 2011-12.
However, the Portugal captain has only managed four goals since the turn of the year.
“He didn’t score but he was dangerous,” Ancelotti said at a news conference after Real stretched their lead over secondplaced Barca at the top to four points.
“A crossbar, an assist (for Karim Benzema), he could have scored, he didn’t miss passes and the technical evaluation of his match is positive.”
NEGREDO STRIKES BARCELONA: Alvaro Negredo earned and converted a penalty to give Valencia a 1-0 win at home over Getafe in the Spanish league on Sunday.
The victory moved Valencia back into fourth place and control of the last Champions League spot from Sevilla.
Getafe seemed content on playing for a scoreless draw and limited Valencia’s chances to a Negredo header that goalkeeper Jonathan Lopez pushed off. CARLO ANCELOTTI, on Ronaldo SERGIO RAMOS, sees the bright side