MADRID, October 4 – Jose Mourinho enjoyed his biggest win in charge of Real Madrid as his side crushed Deportivo La Coruna 6-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to move two points behind leaders Valencia.Goals had been few and far between for Real with six goals in the first five matches but Madrid found their shooting boots and took their frustration out on hapless Deportivo.
A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, a first Real goal from Mesut Ozil and strikes from Argentines Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain put winless Deportivo to the sword with Real 5-0 up after an hour.
"We were switched on from the start and scored the goals early on which has not happened on other occasions," said midfielder Xabi Alonso.
"We are pleased with our performance and our only motivation has to be our game and our results. We can’t control what the other teams do."
It was a perfect third home win for Real who go a point above rivals Barcelona into third after the champions dropped two home points in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca at Camp Nou on Sunday.
"We should have killed off the game but we didn’t and we let two points slip from our grasp," said Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
"We won’t get 99 points this season. Last season’s points tally is something very difficult to get."
Lionel Messi made his first league start since injuring his ankle a fortnight ago and netted his third goal of the campaign on 20 minutes to put Barca ahead, but Emilio N’Sue equalised with a header three minutes before half-time.
Madrid got off to a flying start with Ronaldo, praised by Mourinho this week for his work-rate, heading in an Ozil corner after just four minutes.
Ozil then scored his first Real goal on 24 minutes cutting inside and bending in a shot with his trusty left foot.
The German international, 21, has been a real hit since arriving from Werder Bremen in the summer, establishing himself as the club’s playmaker.
On 34 minutes Real netted again with Argentine Gonzalo Higuain crossing perfectly for compatriot di Maria to bullet in a header.
Higuain was on the other end to score himself on 53 minutes and an own goal from Ze Castro after the hour mark before Ronaldo struck a sixth in the final minute to ensure the rain-soaked fans went home happy.
While Real have a flawless nine points at home, Barcelona have been patchy at Camp Nou dropping five points in their first three home matches.
Two goals in three home matches is a poor return for Barca and the Mallorca draw, coupled with the shock loss to promoted Hercules, gives Guardiola food for thought.
The champions drop to fourth, two points behind second-placed Villarreal, 2-0 winners over Racing Santander on Sunday, and three behind pace-setters Valencia, who they face at Camp Nou in their next league match.
Barcelona had to do without playmaker Xavi due to tendinitis and Guardiola also decided to rest Spanish internationals Sergi Busquets, Carles Puyol and David Villa.
Barca went ahead when Pedro Rodriguez’s clever flick set up Messi and the Argentine coolly dispatched a curling shot on 21 minutes.
Mallorca equalised against the run of play with N’Sue heading in a corner shortly before the interval and Barca could not find a winner.
Earlier Villarreal beat Racing 2-0 on Sunday for a fifth consecutive victory.
Brazilian international striker Nilmar scored his fifth goal of the season and Giuseppe Rossi his fourth as Villarreal wrapped up the game early on.
In other matches, new Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano enjoyed a winning league debut as his side cruised to a 3-1 home win over rivals Atletico Madrid.
Goals from Alvaro Negredo, Diego Perotti and Frederic Kanoute clinched the spoils for Sevilla, who move above Atletico into fifth place.
