Real Madrid battled to a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna yesterday.
Carlo Ancelotti's side made a nervous side to the game but took a 20th-minute lead through Isco, and then Karim Benzema sealed the points in the 73rd minute.
Madrid stay top of the Primera Division thanks to the win but this was far from an assured performance.
Ancelotti remarked: "The team reacted very well after a strange week. I expected to see this Real Madrid side. We were going to have difficulties but it was important to have the concentration and motivation needed to win, and in the end we did well.
"It was not an easy game. We played part of it well but we also had difficulties. It was a strange week, delicate and complicated and we have emerged with a win that is good for doing what we have always done. Today we partly did this. The team was focused and things turned out well in the end."
