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Real Madrid's Kaka (L) fights for the ball with Deportivo Coruna's Laure during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 29, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Big spending Real Madrid began the new season with a 3-2 win at home to battling Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday night.
Real Madrid may have spent over 250 million euros on players such as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, but was made to suffer by a team that has hardly spent a cent all summer and which relied on organization and teamwork.
Real Madrid kicked off with seven new faces in the side to that which started last season and with 78,000 fans packed into the Santiago Bernabeu stadium it didn't take long for them to take the lead.
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Real Madrid's Raul (7) celebrates his goal against Deportivo Coruna with Karim Benzema (obscured L), Kaka (top), Alvaro Arbeloa (2nd R) and Xavi Alonso (R) during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 29, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
After 25 minutes, one of the survivors from last season, club captain Raul Gonzalez scored a left foot shot from close range.
It looked as if that could open the floodgates from Real Madrid, but just five minutes later Deportivo striker Riki silenced the Bernabeu.
The player, who began his career in the Real Madrid youth system, headed home a Juca cross from inside the penalty area.
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Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (R) controls the ball in front of Deportivo Coruna's goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 29, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
If that shocked Real Madrid it didn't show, because after 35 minutes, the home side again took the lead from the penalty spot.
Deportivo goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia caught Raul while trying to get to the ball and referee Fernandez Borbalan had no hesitation pointing to the penalty sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo made no mistake to open his Real Madrid account and put his side back in front.
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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) dribbles in front of Deportivo Coruna's Angel Lafita during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid August 29, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Deportivo had to hang on until the break as Real Madrid looked to assure the points, but the visitors hit back at the start of the second half.
Veteran midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron leveled the score within a minute of the kick off.
The same player should have put Deportivo ahead ten minutes later, but missed a golden chance with just Real keeper Iker Casillas to beat. That was to be a fatal error as Lassana Diarra scored the decisive goal on the hour. The former Portsmouth player made space at the edge of the Deportivo area before scoring with a powerful shot.
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2009)
