Real Madrid 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Helguera, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Flavio Conceiçao; Figo (Miñambres 92'), Raúl, Zidane (Guti 68'); Ronaldo (Solari 84'). 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Héctor (Víctor 68'), Andrade, Naybet, Romero; Scaloni, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Fran (Valerón 57'); Makaay, Diego Tristán (Luque 57'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Makelele for Cambiasso / Deportivo: Fran for Amavisca.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Zidane. Shot from close range after Ronaldo played ball in from by-line.
2-0. 47. Ronaldo. Beat Molina from inside area after Zidane passed through.

Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of the table after beating third placed Deportivo La Coruña 2-0 in the last match of the weekend. The visitors had won five league games in a row and could have moved level with their opponents if they had won, and Irureta put out his best available side having rested his key players in Europe midweek. However they were never a threat to their rivals, and could have found themselves behind several times early on, with Raúl just failing to get on the end of Michel Salgado's cross, Molina saving from Ronaldo and Iván Helguera having a headed goal disallowed for the offside of Raúl. Casillas was forced to make his first save from Makaay's free kick near the end of the first half, and three minutes before half time Madrid took the lead when Ronaldo collected Salgado's lobbed cross on the goal line and laid the ball back for Zidane to score.

The French midfielder returned the favour five minutes after the break, playing through a pass for Ronaldo to score a second. Irureta made a double change, bringing on Valerón and Luque and a few minutes later Víctor came on for Héctor. Depor came back briefly, with Casillas tipping a long Víctor shot over the bar and Makaay shooting over from right of goal. By now Zidane had limped off to be replaced by Guti, who brought a good save out of Molina, and Figo found Raúl soon afterwards but he only hit a weak right foot shot at the keeper. But Madrid had done enough, and with Real Sociedad only drawing, they move further ahead at the top. They still have some way to go, but it is a brave man who will bet on them not taking the title this year.