Deportivo vs. Real Madrid: Winners and Losers from La Liga
Real Madrid ended the Liga season with a 2-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna, but it wasn't enough to take the title as Barcelona won their game at the same time.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored after just a few minutes from close range, as Real sought to play at a high tempo and keep Depor pegged back. The Portuguese forward doubled his tally with a deflected header to give the scoreline a comfortable look at the break. The second half was a much-quieter affair as Real realised they wouldn't be celebrating come full time.
Here are our biggest winners and losers from the match at Riazor.
Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
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Cristiano Ronaldo only had 45 minutes on the pitch, but he was still comfortably the best player on the pitch and certainly the most effective one.
His two goals were well-taken and showed good anticipation, a standard from Real's No. 7, and with a little more luck or accuracy, he could have had yet another hat-trick—Ronaldo struck both the post and the crossbar with fantastic efforts from the left side of the goal.
With Real manager Zinedine Zidane subbing Ronaldo off at the break, it means he finishes only as runner-up in the race for the Pichichi, but the brace capped another big season for Ronaldo nonetheless.
Loser: Manuel Pablo
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Forty-year-old Manuel Pablo played his third Liga game of the campaign and the final match of a career that has lasted over 20 seasons—he's retiring now that 2015-16 is over, with Depor safe.
The right-back had a tough time of things as the likes of Gareth Bale and Marcelo all breezed past him easily, with pace a real problem for the veteran to deal with at this stage, but with nothing of note to play for, it was more of a celebratory performance anyway.
He'll remain with Depor in a non-playing capacity after the summer.
Winner: Pepe
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Pepe has been Real Madrid's best centre-back this season—no question.
The Portuguese defender has had to win himself a regular spot back in the team, but his performance at Riazor was just like most over the last two or three months: aggressive at the right times, solid in the main and in the right place when required to ensure clearances were made.
Real's back line overall is inconsistent at best, and Pepe was called upon a number of times to ensure his side kept the clean sheet.
Loser: Sergio Ramos
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Beside Pepe, Sergio Ramos continued his own uneven form.
The Spanish national team defender was prone to lapses of judgement, racing out of position to win a ball he didn't need to reach and giving away possession high upfield.
He lost Rober for a header off a corner that should have resulted in a Depor goal, he was booked five minutes before the end of the match for a pointless challenge and his team could do with him making a big improvement ahead of the UEFA Champions League final.
Winner: Stipe Pletikosa
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Aside from Sky Sports commentators, who failed to notice a change in goal by Depor, calling him "Manu" all game long, Stipe Pletikosa had an overall good day.
This was only his second Liga game of the season, and the Croatian made several important, if ungainly, interceptions and saves—and he couldn't do anything about the two goals scored past him, either.
More than once he stopped Marcelo at the near post, with the Brazilian looking to shoot or make a cutback, while Ronaldo and James Rodriguez were both denied, too.
