Riazor: from bogey ground to Promised Land for Real Madrid
Between 1992 and 2008 Real Madrid made 17 visits to A Coruña without winning a single game against Deportivo. Recent trips to Riazor have been more productive.Russia - Spain
For close to 20 years, Riazor, along with Camp Nou and Balaídos was one of toughest tests in the league calendar for Real Madrid. Between 1992 and 2008, Madrid faced Deportivo 18 times at their stadium (17 times in LaLiga and once in the Spanish Supercup) without gaining a single victory. In more than a decade and a half, Madrid's balance at Depor's ground was 13 defeats and five draws.
Guti's genial backheel pass to Benzema in 2010
Madrid's fortunes only started to change in the 2009/10 season. In the Week 20 meeting in January 2010, an exhibition display from Guti, who pulled out a wonderful, back-heeled assist for Benzema, who ended with a brace in the 1-3 win, ended the jix which had haunted Madrid in A Coruña. Since then, they have not lost, winning four of the five most recent meetings and drawing one - being held to a goalless draw in February 2011.
Real Madrid's eight-goal feast at Riazor in 2014
Indeed, Madrid have taken all three points from their last three visits to Riazor. In 2012/13, Mourinho's team bounced back after going a goal down to Riki's opener to win 1-2 with Kaká and Higuaín finding the net. Two seasons later, with Ancelotti in charge, Madrid chalked a rousing 2-8 win over Deportivo with Cristiano getting a hat trick, Bale, a brace and Chicharito and James claiming the other two. Last season, Madrid were at Riazor on the final day but needed a win and Barça to lose to claim the trophy. Cristiano's two goals in the 0-2 victory were not enough as Barcelona ran out 0-3 winners at Granada.
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