Real Madrid 5-0 Deportivo La Coruna: Five talking points

Los Blancos handed Zidane a perfect start.Real Madrid rode high on a Gareth Bale hat-trick as the Zinedine Zidane era started with a thumping 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu, with Karim Benzema scoring a brace.All eyes, though, were on the dugout as French legend and former Galactico Zizou was taking charge of the side for the first time since Rafa Benitez got the axe. The illustrious Frenchman was brought aboard from Real’s B team, despite having minimal coaching experience.Yet, it was an encouraging start to his reign as the hosts pummeled the Brancoazuis for five, and Bale netted his second treble of the campaign while Benzema continued his fine goal-run. Here are some of the major things to talk about from the first game of the Zidane era.

#1 First test, flying colours

A positive start for the new Real Madrid manager

France legend Zinedine Zidane oversaw the proceedings from the sidelines for the first time as a head coach and cannot be more pleased. The 41-year old’s first game in-charge as the Blancos manager was brought under scrutiny given his limited experience in the dugout, but suffice to say, he passed his first test with flying colours.

Zidane made a few notable changes to the line-up that featured in the 2-2 draw at Valencia last weekend. Dani Carvajal was reinstated his position at the right-back and dropping the inconsistent Danilo to the bench. Isco started in the midfield again after sitting out last weekend, and James Rodriguez, who was also benched in the Valencia encounter, was brought late on. Upfront, the stellar ‘BBC’ trio led the line where Bale and Benzema got among the goals as the home side coasted to a routine victory over the Galician minnows.

A positive start for Zidane by all accounts.

#2 Fifty shades of Bale

Gareth Bale had another great night in front of goal.

Welsh talisman Gareth Bale rolled back the years with a masterclass as he bagged a hat-trick for the second time this campaign to hit 50-goal mark for Real and continue his resurgence as one of the world’s best.

The former Tottenham striker was an object of derision for the fans for a stinker of a season he had last term, netting only 17 times in all competitions. In the new season, however, there has been a marked improvement in his attacking prowess and is striking goals at a prolific rate.

Bale has now accrued 12 goals, trailing only Ronaldo, Benzema, Neymar and Suarez in the scoring charts of the league and he is also the only player to bag two trebles in La Liga so far. And to ice the cake, he crossed the half-century mark for Real Madrid, taking his tally to 51 in 108 appearances.

Not a bad return for an Welshman plying his trade far away from the Premier League.

#3 Lucas Perez wasteful upfront

Lucas Perez was guilty of being too profligate.

Not that Deportivo were without their chances amid the battering dished out to them. The visitors did rattle their attacking flair by racking up a handful of shots at goal, but most of them stemmed through the feet of Lucas Perez, who was wasteful upfront.

The Turcos happily exploited some of the defensive gaffes by Real’s backline, popping up in pockets of spaces afforded in or near the box to launch attacks. Perez enjoyed a greater share of the chances than his team-mates, but the Depor No.7 wasn’t clinical enough to find the net.

Most of the time, his efforts were directed straight at Keylor Navas, and the Costa Rican had little troubles in clutching the ball into his hands. Perez fluffed his lines consistently in the game and some poor finishing robbed his side off even consolation goals.

#4 Defense should tighten up more

Real Madrid were exposed at the back many a times by Deportivo

Zinedine Zidane’s proclivity for attacking football was underlined after Real’s resounding win, but issues continue to remain at the other end of the field which he should take note of.

The Whites’ backline appeared to be all over the place, just like it did against bigger sides like Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia, and stretched far too much. The visiting team were handed far too much time and space to create something. Depor surged forward at every opportunity and managed to register a shot every single time. There were some near instances when they could have found the net, but it was only poor finishing that kept them from doing so.

Real’s defensive frailties today, was overshadowed amidst the litany of goals. But it surely won't be, against bigger and better opponents.

#5 Ronaldo\'s poor form creeps into the new year

Ronaldo hasn’t seen any upturn of fortunes in 2016 so far

Of the seven seasons with Real Madrid, the current one is turning out to be the worst for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward has featured in every single La Liga game this term, but with a paltry return of only 14 goals. A poor stat to go by the astronomical standards he has set for himself.

Against Deportivo, Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure once again as he missed some glorious chances to get on the scoresheet and eventually pulled another blank. The 31-year old has produced some brilliant aerial goals in the past, but here, even that trait had deserted him as his header early in the first half crashed against the bar from point-blank range.

Ronaldo may have accrued 25 goals in all competitions thus far, but many of them have been against low-profile teams and has been accused of disappearing against mightier sides. With 2 matches already into 2016, he is yet to find the net and the two assists he made, last weekend against Valencia and against Deportivo last night, are his only saving grace in the new year.