Real run out of gas against Deportivo

Real Madrid paid the price for their midweek Champions League exertions as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

"We felt the effects of the fightback we needed against Roma," said coach Mariano Garcia Remon, whose side had overturned a 2-0 deficit against the Italians to win 4-2. "That took a great amount of effort."

"We managed to move the ball well in the first half against Deportivo but if we were slow in the second half it was because of that effort in midweek."

Real's defeat was a second in three league games since Garcia Remon was drafted in as an emergency replacement for Jose Antonio Camacho.

The nine-times European champions are now in 10th place, seven points behind league leaders Barcelona and with two tricky matches to come, away to Real Betis and at home to champions Valencia.

"The players fought hard and played well but everything went against us," the coach lamented.

Michael Owen was given a rare start in place of the injured Ronaldo but the England striker failed to make an impact and was substituted early in the second half after complaining of a muscle problem.

"The doctors told us Ronaldo had a problem and we decided not to force it," said Garcia Remon.