Real Madrid 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Madrid: Casillas; Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos (Cicinho 89'); Diarra, Gago; Beckham, Raúl, Robinho (Guti 76'); Van Nistelrooy (Higuaín 90'). 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Dudu Aouate; Coloccini, Lopo, Andrade, Capdevila; De Guzman, Sergio (Verdú 78'); Estoyanoff (Bodipo 62'), Juan Rodríguez, Cristian; Arizmendi (Barragán 85'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: No change / Depor: Cristian for Riki.

Goals:
1-0. 29. Ramos. Turned ball back into net after Aouate blocked Van Nistelrooy.
1-1. 55. Capdevila. Got ahead of Casillas to turn De Guzman cross into net.
2-1. 57. Raúl. Near post header wide of Aouate from Beckham's cross.
3-1. 74. Van Nistelrooy. Beat keeper on far post after Raúl challenged Coloccini.

Real Madrid beat Deportivo 3-1 to stay at the top of the table, ahead of Barcelona on head-to-head goal average. The visitors were playing their last cards in their push for a UEFA cup spot, and they took the early initiative, with Arizmendi and Capdevila shooting wide. But Madrid took the lead on the half hour mark in controversial circumstances, Van Nistelrooy appearing to knock Beckham's cross back with his hand, allowing Sergio Ramos to turn the rebound in to the net after a defender had tried to clear.

Beckham went close with a free kick before the break, and then fired another against the post soon after the restart. But Depor came forward with a series of attacks which Casillas and his defence kept out until Capdevila got on the end of De Guzman's cross to equalise. But just two minutes later the locals went back in front when Raúl headed another Beckham cross past Aouate. And Van Nistelrooy wrapped things up after Coloccini could only play the ball into his path under a challenge from Raúl later on. Madrid had clocked up their sixth win in a row, and right now they are sitting on top of the pack.