Real Madrid 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera (Celades 83'), Makelele; Figo, Zidane (Guti 91'), Raúl; Morientes (Solari 72'). 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Mauro Silva, Sergio; Víctor, Valerón (Djalminha 63'), Fran (Pandiani 80'); Makaay (Diego Tristán 63'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Casillas for Carlos Sánchez / Deportivo: Romero, Mauro Silva, Víctor for Capdevila, Duscher, Diego Tristán.

Goals:
1-0. 06. Morientes. Ran on to chipped pass from Raúl to shoot low past keeper.
1-1. 08. Makaay (penalty). After late tackle by Pavón on Víctor on edge of area.
2-1. 09. Zidane. Took ball on edge of area and beat two men before scoring.
3-1. 64. Raúl. Pulled ball down with left foot and drove it past Molina with right.

Real Madrid kicked off their centenary year with one of the best displays of the season, knocking Deportivo La Coruña off top spot with a convincing 3-1 victory. Dressed in their new all-white strip, Del Bosque's side came out to a rousing reception from the capacity 75,000 crowd, with the starting line up unchanged apart from the return of Casillas after a one match ban. Deportivo too were at full strength (excepting Manuel Pablo), and Irureta put out what must now be considered his first choice line up. His only doubt was whom to play at centre forward, but he eventually opted for Roy Makaay rather than Diego Tristán, considering the Dutchman's direct style of play to be more effective than Tristán's elaborate skills.

The game started at a frantic pace, with three goals scored in the first nine minutes of play. Morientes gave the home side the lead after Raúl set him up in the sixth minute with a delightful lofted pass which left the defence stranded. However straight from the kick off Pavón tripped Víctor on the edge of the area and referee Undiano Mallenco awarded a penalty which Makaay converted for the equaliser. A minute later Zidane restored the lead though with a brilliant individualist goal, taking a pass from Figo and leaving three defenders for dead before blasting the ball over Molina. After that things calmed down a bit, with Madrid still seeing more of the ball but Depor dangerous on counterattacks and dead ball moves. Madrid wanted another goal or two though, aware that the last game of the season in the Riazor stadium could come down to individual goal average, and they picked up the pace again after the break. Within minutes Molina was forced to make a point blank save from Morientes, and shortly afterwards the striker had a goal disallowed with Helguera in an offside position.

Irureta was not happy with the way things were going, and brought on Tristán and Djalminha for Makaay and Valerón. Before they had time to settle though Raúl had made it three, controlling a bouncing ball and pulling it round Naybet before driving it past Molina with his right foot for his tenth league goal of the season, taking him joint top of the goalscorers' chart with Urzaiz. Del Bosque was happy with that and brought on an extra midfielder Solari for Morientes, and Casillas had to be at his best as Depor threw caution to the winds, the young keeper keeping out shots from Fran, Sergio and Djalminha. Real could have scored again on the counterattack though, Molina making a fabulous one handed save from Raúl near the end. The victory takes the league champions back to the top of the table and with half the league gone, gives them the honorary title of winter champions. Losses for the teams below them mean that Depor stay second, but having only picked up one point from their last six away games their form outside of the Riazor stadium is letting them down again.