Deportivo 0 : 0 Real Madrid - Real fail to overcome Depor

Posted Saturday, February 26, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid's title hopes suffered a damaging blow after they were held to a goalless draw by Deportivo La Coruna, a result that leaves Jose Mourinho's men seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

Madrid dominated the match but a mixture of the woodwork, good goalkeeping by Depor custodian Daniel Aranzubia and poor finishing meant the capital club endured another miserable trip to the Riazor.

Madrid had gone 18 years without a win at Depor's home prior to last season's 3-1 victory, and this slip-up means Barca are a step closer to winning their third successive Primera Division crown.

With Barca having beaten Real Mallorca 3-0 earlier on Saturday, Madrid would have been desperate for a victory over Depor to keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola's men, and the Whites were quickly in charge in Galicia.

However, despite enjoying plenty of possession and trying their luck through Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil, Madrid rarely tested Aranzubia before the break.

The visitors did manage to get the ball in the Depor net on one occasion when Ronaldo volleyed in Kaka's pass, but the Portugal international's effort was ruled out for a marginal offside.

Mourinho opted against making any changes at the break, and his side needed just 20 seconds of the second period to do what they failed to do in the whole of the first half - give Aranzubia something serious to worry about.

Ronaldo let fly from 25 yards out and a deflection off a Depor defender meant Aranzubia had to scramble to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Aranzubia then had to deal with another deflected shot, this time from Kaka, before Mourinho sent on attacking reinforcements in the form of Emmanuel Adebayor and Angel Di Maria.

Like the first period, Madrid were largely camped in the Depor half, although the occasional foray forward from the home side meant the visitors defence needed to stay alert.

The final 15 minutes saw Madrid do almost everything but score as they increasingly piled forward in search of a match winner.

Ronaldo brought a good diving save out of Aranzubia from a free-kick before Adebayor struck the woodwork.

Ozil's cross picked out the on-loan Manchester City man and, although he did not connect cleanly with his left-footed volley, it struck the base of the near post and then hit the diving Aranzubia before going for a corner.

Three minutes after that it was Ronaldo's turn to hit the frame of the goal, the world's most expensive player driving into the area before smashing a low effort against the far post.

The rebound from that effort was picked up by Di Maria on the edge of the box, but his shot was superbly turned behind by Aranzubia, who was proving to be his side's hero for the second successive match. Last weekend. Aranzubia headed in a last-gasp equaliser as Depor drew 1-1 at Almeria.

Madrid had another great chance with six minutes remaining when Ronaldo's first-time cross looked perfect for Benzema to slot in in the middle.

However, the France international, who scored his side's goal in their 1-1 Champions League last-16 first leg draw with Lyon in midweek and also struck twice in last season's win at the Riazor, fluffed his shot and Madrid would come no closer in the closing stages as they dropped two vital points.