Deportivo La Coruña 5 - Atlético Madrid 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Andrade, Naybet, Romero; Sergio, Mauro Silva; Víctor (Scaloni 66'), Valerón (Diego Tristán 58'), Fran; Pandiani (Munitis 76'). 4-2-3-1.
Atlético: Burgos; Aguilera, Santi, Lequi, Sergi; Diego Rivas (Javi Moreno 60'), De los Santos; Novo (Ortíz 83'), Ibagaza, Musampa (Nano 70'); Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Manuel Pablo, Romero, Fran for Héctor, Capdevila, Luque / Atlético: Diego Rivas for Rodrigo.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Fran. Took pass from Víctor on right of arera and shot low past Burgos.
1-1. 11. Lequi. Header down past Molina from Ibagaza's left sided free kick.
2-1. 35. Aguilera (own goal). Deflected Romero cross from left past own keeper.
3-1. 50. Sergio. Shot across Burgos into far corner of net from outside of area.
4-1. 56. Pandiani. Picked up pass from right and hit deflected shot in off defender.
5-1. 93. Scaloni. Picked up ball in front of area and hit long shot across Burgos.

Deportivo La Coruña moved back into top spot pending Sunday's games after a resounding 5-1 win over Atlético Madrid. Irureta put out a similar side to the one who started in the Champions League midweek, and they took the lead in the seventh minute when Fran got ahead of the offside trap to pick up a through ball from Víctor and beat Burgos. Four minutes later though the visitors equalised with only their second goal of the season, Lequi getting above the defence to head Ibagaza's free kick down through Molina's legs.

Depor were back in front by half time though thanks to a stroke of luck, Romero's cross being blocked by Aguilera but the ball deflecting off the full back to wrong foot Burgos and enter the net. Up to that point Atlético had shown some promise, with Fernando Torres still looking for his first goal of the season testing Molina twice. But the goal hit them hard, and with Valerón conducting the orchestra Deportivo scored a third, Sergio beating Burgos with a fierce shot from outside of the area five minutes after the restart.

The crowd were enjoying themselves, and started to ask for another goal from top scorer Pandiani. The Uruguayan striker went close twice and then got third time lucky, his shot taking a deflection off Santi and entering the net for a club record sixth goal in consecutive matches in the league. And with the game in the bag Irureta decided to rest Valerón and give a run out to Diego Tristán.

Gregorio Manzano also made changes, bringing on Javi Moreno to join Torres in attack. But the forgotten striker missed a couple of chances, and only twenty minutes after coming on picked up two bookings to leave his side with ten men. Depor took advantage to add another late goal through Pandiani, giving them top spot pending Valencia's game at Barcelona the following day. Atlético fall to another bad defeat, and they could end the weekend in the relegation spots if the other results go against them. Manzano could be seeking new employment fairly soon.