MADRID — Real Madrid will go into next weekend's La Liga ‘Clasico' at Barcelona eight points behind its great rival after Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat trick in a 5-1 comeback win at home to promoted Deportivo Coruna Sunday. Jose Mourinho's side fell behind to a Riki goal against the run of play in the 16th minute but the result was never in doubt after it stormed back to lead 3-1 at the break. The victory continued its revival after a woeful start to its title defense — it has already lost twice, the same number of defeats in the whole of last season — and lifted it to sixth on 10 points from six matches. Barca, which battled back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Sevilla Saturday, has 18 points thanks to La Liga's only perfect record of six wins. Undefeated Atletico Madrid climbed above Malaga into second on 16 points when Raul Garcia's 30th-minute header was enough for a 1-0 victory at bottom side Espanyol in Sunday's late game. Malaga, which is also undefeated and has 14 points, thumped 10-man Real Betis 4-0 Saturday. After Riki's early strike at the Bernabeu, Real was level within seven minutes when Angel Di Maria dashed in from the left and was felled by Manuel Pablo on the edge of the area. Ronaldo stroked in the spot-kick before Di Maria made it 2-1 in the 39th minute when his initial effort was diverted on to a post by Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia and he followed up to nod the ball over the line. Ronaldo added his second with a header from a deflected Sergio Ramos shot shortly before halftime and Pepe glanced in another header from Xabi Alonso's inswinging free kick in the 66th minute. Ronaldo completed the scoring in the 84th minute when Evaldo handled in the area and the Portuguese converted his second penalty of the night, his 155th goal in 153 official games for the Spanish champions. In Sunday's earlier games, Real Valladolid steamrollered visiting Rayo Vallecano 6-1 and is seventh on nine points and Osasuna and Granada secured its first wins of the campaign at home to Levante and Celta Vigo respectively. Osasuna thumped Levante 4-0 and Granada saw off Celta 2-1. Inter tastes win Inter Milan finally put its San Siro curse to bed Sunday by defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in a pulsating end-to-end match. City rivals Inter and AC Milan had both failed to win at their shared ground in their first three league games, prompting Italian media to suggest both were subject to a San Siro curse. Juventus sits top on 16 points with Napoli second on goal difference and Inter and Lazio in third and fourth respectively on 12 points.— Reuters
