Cristiano Ronaldo left bloody face as Real Madrid thrash Deportivo

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale believes his side are returning to top form after Sunday’s 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna.

As he left the field and blood was spilling down his face and neck, he asked for the doctor’s cell phone to look at the injury.

With a game in hand, Madrid are five points behind third-place Valencia, and one point in front of fifth-place Villarreal.

Cristiano Ronaldo prompted a fit of giggles from his Real Madrid teammates prior to Sunday’s thumping win over Deportivo by engaging in a spot of Lionel Messi trash-talk with the club’s mascots. Nacho rounded off the scoring in the 88 minute with a brace of his own as the defender continues to thrive in Sergio Ramos’ absence.

Los Blancos have won back-to-back Champions League trophies but now lie 19 points behind runaway league leaders Barcelona, albeit do have a game in hand on their rivals.

“There are 18 games left, that’s a lot”, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said.

Gareth Bale was at the forefront of most of Real’s attacking play – which was vastly improved from recent weeks. “He’s the best player ever”.

A world class talent like Kroos would also help propel the Merseyside club back to the top of the pile, both in England and Europe, which is arguably where they belong.

Betis were making mistakes at the back and when Zouhair Feddal clumsily gave the ball away on halfway to Suarez, the Uruguayan sent Messi scampering away.

The league leaders turned on the style in the second half as they have done so often in this dominant campaign.

Real had lost two of their last three league games and got off on the wrong foot against relegation-threatened Deportivo.