Battling Real Madrid fail to win again

Deportivo Coruna and European champions Real Madrid fought out a goalless draw at a rain-soaked Riazor on Saturday to leave both sides well off the pace in the Spanish first division.

Real improved on their recent form but now have just one win to show from eight games in domestic and European matches.

Saturday's draw saw them slip to fifth in the league table with 13 points from eight games, and they could find themselves seven points behind Real Sociedad if the leaders win away to Villarreal on Sunday.

Deportivo, the 2000 champions, are also on 13 points, a place behind Real on goal difference.

Real Mallorca, meanwhile, moved up to second spot, with 15 points to Real Sociedad's 17, as a Walter Pandiani hat-trick earned them a 3-1 win at Valladolid -- a fifth successive league victory for the islanders.

Barcelona, in eighth place on 11 points, can climb ahead of Real Madrid and Deportivo Coruna if they win away to Racing Santander on Sunday.

With Raul missing through illness and Ronaldo still not quite looking fully fit, Real Madrid looked a little lightweight in attack against Deportivo.

They matched the Galicians in midfield, though, with Luis Figo working hard down the right, Santiago Solari in effervescent form on the left and Zinedine Zidane directing their play from the centre.

"My players worked very hard tonight," said Real coach Vicente del Bosque. "It was an intense game and either side could have won it."

Esteban Cambiasso missed Real's best chance of the first half, cracking a shot just wide after being teed up by Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was also given a clear run on goal from a long ball over the top on 13 minutes but the Brazilian's control let him down and Depor keeper Juanmi was able to gather.

Depor midfielder Victor hit a free kick against the bar on 26 minutes as Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas misjudged the flight.

In the second half Depor were content to sit back and look to hit their opponents on the break and that tactic almost paid off as Roy Makaay started to run at the Real defence.

The visitors held firm, though, and came within a whisker of claiming their first league win away to Depor in a decade as Roberto Carlos arrived late to force Juanmi into a fine save.

Deportivo should probably have been ahead by that stage after enjoying the better chances but they couldn't quite find their range on a frustrating nights.

"We hit the bar from a free kick but we weren't quite accurate enough in front of goal," Depor coach Javier Irureta said.

"We have to continue in this attacking line, though."