Bale grabs headlines on Zidane’s debut

Benzema scores first goal of Zidane era

Zinedine Zidane’s first line-up included the BBC, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo up front, with Isco favoured in midfield after a spell on the bench under former boss Rafa Benitez.

They took the lead with a great touch from Benzema when a corner to the far side of the area was fired back across goal by Sergio Ramos and the Frenchman backheeled the ball into the corner. It was the first goal of the Zidane era.

This is how @Benzema celebrated breaking the deadlock against Deportivo! #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/AYQAB75gbS

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) January 9, 2016

Bale header

Madrid’s second came from a Dani Carvajal cross from the right and Bale beat his marker to head past German Lux from the edge of the six-yard box.  

Zidane’s side spurned a number of chances to add to the score. Just before halftime Bale conjured a wonderful cross for Ronaldo as he burst into the area, but from point-blank range the Portuguese forward headed against the post.

Bale unstoppable

The second half was only four minutes old when Ronaldo burst down the right and crossed low into the area, and Bale drilled a first-time shot just inside the post to make it 3-0.

There was still more to come from the 26-year-old. In the 63rd minute he rose at the near post to connect with a Toni Koos corner and powered a header under the crossbar for his sixth headed goal this season. He has struck eight of his 12 goals in his last three Liga BBVA appearances and was given a standing ovation by the Bernabeu crowd when substituted midway through the second half.

Navas foils Deportivo reaction

The Deportivo striker Lucas Perez has been one of the surprise performers in the Liga BBVA this season and is his side’s leading scorer with 12 goals but he was unable to find a way past Keylor Navas.

He had the first clear chance of the game when played into the area by Pedro Mosquera but he was foiled by Navas, who was quick off his line to smother. Luis Alberto stung Navas’s hands with a fine shot from outside the area near the end.but it wasn't the visitors' day in front of goal.

Benzema wraps up scoring

In time added on, with his teammates trying to set him up for a goal, Ronaldo got the ball caught under his feet. It broke free in the area, and Benzema lashed it high into the net to complete the scoring with his 14th of the season.

The result kept Madrid hot on the heels of the leaders, while for Deportivo, who are in the running for the European places, it was their biggest defeat of the season.