Deportivo 0 – 3 Real Madrid: Quick Take from the LaLiga opener

Real Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruna by a score of three to nil at the Riazor. Here’s your quick take reaction to Madrid’s victory.

Real Madrid got off their La Liga title defense off to a fierce start by dismantling Deportivo three-nil in a match that Real Madrid never looked troubled.

Deportivo did start the match strong, cutting apart Madrid’s back line a few times, but Keylor Navas was not to be denies. Navas is in very strong form right now, and demonstrated that tonight throughout the game.

Madrid opened up the scoring after a banger of a Luka Modric shot was smacked by the keeper into the bath of an onrushing Karim Benzema. Benzema intelligently paused, tapped the ball to the open space, where Gareth Bale was posted up waiting to fire the goal away. It’s the third season in a row that Gareth Bale has scored Real Madrid’s season opener.

Casemiro got Madrid’s second, after a beautifully placed Marcelo cross. Casemiro is banging in goals left and right, which is an awesome added bonus from your defensive midfielder.

Gareth Bale was also involved in Madrid’s third goal. His sharp cut-in and hold up play allowed him to dish the ball onto an onrushing Toni Kroos who banged the ball against a Depor player and in for a deflected goal. Bale silenced his haters tonight, and we’ll have to hope that form continues on throughout the rest of the season.

Keylor Navas was called into action one more time during the match. Carvajal went through the back of a Deportivo player in Madrid’s box, and the referee pointed for the spot. Navas got his fingertips to Andones shot, denying the player a consolation goal. His last minute penalty save was just the icing on the cake of an already stellar performance.

And, just for good measure, Sergio Ramos did Sergio Ramos things and got sent off in extra time.

Ramos had gotten away with just a yellow after an earlier infraction where his hand made contact with another player’s face. It wasn’t really violent, per se, but the disciplinary committee could still come back and give him troubles. As the game was winding down Ramos went up for an innocuous one-on-one challenge that somehow got called for a second yellow.

Marcos Llorente got to start his first game of the season for Real Madrid. That’s good, because it might also be his last. 

It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty darn good. Real Madrid start the La Liga title defense off with a victory.

Next: Real Madrid position preview: forwards

Stay tuned for more coverage here on The Real Champs.