Deportivo La Coruña 2 - Real Madrid 2

Deportivo: Songo'o; Manuel Pablo, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Mauro Silva, Emerson (Diego Tristán 80'); Víctor (Turu Flores 85'), Djalminha, Fran (Scaloni 71'); Makaay. 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera, Celades; Figo, Guti (Morientes 80'), Solari (McManaman 59'); Raúl. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Depor: Songo'o for Molina / Madrid: Celades for Makelele.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Helder (own goal). Headed over own keeper after cross from Salgado.
0-2. 45. Figo (penalty). After Mauro Silva ruled to have fouled Guti.
1-2. 51. Djalminha (penalty). After Figo brought down Djalminha on edge of area.
2-2. 84. Diego Tristán. Placed ball in corner of net after Makaay passed back.

Deportivo La Coruña came back from a two goal deficit to force a draw in their table topping duel with Real Madrid. It was an exciting match, with Deportivo doing 75% of the attacking (24 shots at goal as against 8) but unable to breach the white wall, with Spain's first choice keeper Iker Casillas on excellent form. The two teams lined up with seven of the players who are in Camacho's squad for Spain's midweek match against England, Manuel Pablo, Romero and Víctor for Depor and Casillas, Hierro, Helguera and Raúl for Madrid. England's Steve McManaman was on the visitor's bench after missing a couple of games through injury, Del Bosque preferring Solari on the left of midfield and Celades to replace the suspended Makelele. Molina had still not recovered from his injury, so Songo'o kept his place in goal for Javier Irureta's side.

Depor came in to the game with a good run behind them, a draw and five wins in their last six matches, including their victory last week at Barcelona's Nou Camp, and over a year at home since their last home defeat. Real Madrid were though four points ahead of them after only losing once in the last four months, and they qualified for the Champions League quarter finals on Wednesday night after drawing at Lazio. The atmosphere was tense, not helped by local idiots who threw a stone through the window of the Madrid team coach as it was on it's way to the ground, and tackles were hard, especially early on as both teams tried to settle. Madrid took the lead through a stroke of fortune in their first attack, Helder trying to cut out Salgado's cross and only diverting it over Songo'o's head and in to the net. From then on until just before half time it was all Depor, with Djalminha on his best form. With ten minutes gone he fooled Hierro and shot against the foot of the post, the ball falling to Makaay in front of goal with such force that his reaction shot flew over the bar. Fran put a soft header into Casillas's hands with nobody else to beat, and Makaay shot wide again when Djalminha put him through in an offside position.

Casillas then produced two fantastic saves from long shots by Djalminha and Emerson before Madrid struck on the counter attack on the stroke of half time, Guti falling theatrically as Mauro Silva tackled him from behind in the penalty area. Although the Brazilian appeared to win the ball cleanly, referee Andradas Asurmendi had no doubts and awarded a penalty which Figo coolly converted. As the teams left the field at half time passions were high, and Djalminha once again showed his other side arguing with everyone before his team mates calmed him down. Just after the break the Brazilian was booked for diving in the penalty area, which upset him even further, but a few minutes later he earned himself the penalty he was looking for when Figo slid in to him. He took the penalty himself, waiting until Casillas committed himself before chipping the ball softly in to the other side of the net.

Madrid weren't finished yet though, and Songo'o produced the save of the night from Raúl at point blank range after he ran on to Guti's cross. On the hour mark Figo almost caught the keeper by surprise with a long free kick from the right wing, and a few minutes later substitute McManaman just lost control as he broke free close to goal. At the other end Deportivo hit the woodwork no less than four times in fifteen minutes, with close up headers from Víctor, Makaay and Romero and a Donato free kick. Their luck was out though, and it looked as if Madrid were on their way to their first win in Riazor in eight games before substitute Diego Tristán finally got the goal they deserved, somehow finding room to place a shot round the defence and in to the corner of the net after Makaay played the ball back. Honours were shared, and Valencia and Barcelona have an opportunity to close the gap a bit on their rivals if they can win on Sunday. The pressure continues next week, with Madrid acting as hosts to Barcelona and Deportivo away to Mallorca, and then it's back to Champions League for both. It's going to be a long season this year!