Real Madrid 1 - Deportivo 0

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze; Lass, Gago, Sneijder (Van der Vaart 61'); Higuaín (Huntelaar 71'), Raúl (Drenthe 71'), Robben. 4-3-3.
Deportivo: Munúa; Manuel Pablo, Lopo, Ze Castro, Filipe Luis; De Guzmán (Juan Rodríguez 80'), Antonio Tomás; Lafita (Mista 81'), Valerón, Verdú; Bodipo (Riki 37'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: No change / Deportivo: Munúa, De Guzmán, Antonio Tomás, Lafita, Valerón for Aranzubia, Juan Rodríguez, Sergio, Cristian, Guardado.

Goals:
1-0. 39. Raúl. Glancing header down past Munúa from long Lass cross.

Yellow cards: De Guzmán 08', Lass 69', Pepe 77', Antonio Tomás 79'.

Real Madrid consolidated second spot with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo on Sunday evening, the result keeping them twelve points behind leaders Barcelona.

Despite Madrd having the better chances, Munúa was hardly tested until six minutes before the break, when Raúl headed a cross from Lass wide of the keeper.

Filipe hit the bar with a long shot after the restart, and Casillas had to save from Valerón and Lafita later on. But Robben could have increased the lead near the end, bringing a couple of good stops from Munúa before the final whistle.

A fifth win in a row for Madrid, and with Sevilla and Valencia losing earlier in the evening they are now three points clear of their closest rivals for the runners up spot.