Real Madrid's players had prepared themselves for a referendum on Saturday, a loud one. It was their first fixture since the crushing 4-0 defeat at Atletico in the capital derby, their first public appearance in front of their own supporters since the much-publicised 30th birthday party for Cristiano Ronaldo, at which several teammates were photographed within hours of the Atletico humiliation.
The Santiago Bernabeu stadium, as the defender Nacho put it as he left the field, "can be a very demanding arena." He did not pretend some of the disapproving noises had not been heard. He did not hide his relief that, even if the team had not played to the high standards they set earlier in the season, a 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna served to soften the accusations of half-heartedness that had been made by some madridistas during the previous seven days.
There were audible whistles when the players' names were read out over the Bernabeu's public address system before kick-off, at their shrillest for Iker Casillas, the captain, and even for Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach. Some whistling greeted Cristiano Ronaldo's name, too, but there was also a bold roar of approval for him from others in the stadium.
But a visit by Deportivo, 11th in the table, a team beaten 8-2 by Madrid in their previous meeting in this season's Liga, was always likely to offer therapeutic moments. Madrid had to wait for them. Early on, Depor created alarms for Casillas, and the Galician team's former Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca made some lively runs. There were also symptoms of a problem Atletico exploited so gleefully a week earlier, the tendency of Madrid's celebrated front three -- Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale -- to become detached from the rest. The return of Marcelo from suspension soon helped solve the dysfunction. The Brazilian left-back plays with as fine an understanding of where Ronaldo and Bale like to receive the ball as any of Madrid's midfielders.
By the time Madrid alleviated the anxious expectation around the stadium with a goal, Ronaldo had already thumped a drive against the Depor crossbar and Bale raised the adrenaline, and his own self-confidence, with some classic surges with the ball at his feet. But the lead came from another source: Isco. Alvaro Arbeloa played provider, the veteran full-back stretching to retrieve a shot from Benzema that seemed to be heading out of play. Arbeloa's effort was appreciated, relevant to those in audience keen to see Madrid's players not as weekend party-goers but as athletes ready to push the extra inch.
Arbeloa cut the ball back to Isco, who curled his shot elegantly past Fabricio. It was an exemplary finish for others who have lost their bearings lately. Cristiano Ronaldo heard some whistles of derisions when he later in the game directed a direct free-kick skywards, way off target. His goals total for the season still stands at a surreal 28 from his 20 Liga matches, but he is not in good form: the last of his Liga goals was scored four weeks -- and three matches -- ago.
Bale, much more visible than he had been in the supine defeat at Atletico, has ten goals from his 20 outings in the league, but none now in four games. At least, the other member of the celebrated attacking trident did register against Depor, Benzema providing Madrid's second in the second half. Again Arbeloa was involved, passing to Ronaldo, who picked out Benzema's run. The French striker finished with a subtle chip.
That ensured Madrid will end the weekend still on top of the table. Yet they are not playing with the swagger they maintained through the last three months of 2014. And the challenges of the calendar become more concentrated from now on. On Wednesday, Madrid's defence of the European Champions League resumes, with a trip to Schalke.
They will be nourished by the memories of a year ago, and the manner in which they launched the juggernaut that ran all the way into a triumphant extra-time in the European Cup final. At Schalke, at the precise same stage in 2013-14, they won 6-1, with two goals each for Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo.
Those three should start in Germany again, but Ancelotti is obliged to field an imperfect defence and midfield. Marcelo limped off the pitch late in the game against Deportivo, too bruised after a challenge from Laure to return even though Madrid had used all their substitutes. His usual understudy, Fabio Coentrao, is injured, as are the regular central defenders Pepe -- who may be ready for Schalke -- and Sergio Ramos, who is out for six weeks.
The missing list extends into midfield. Luka Modric and James Rodriguez are in recuperation, as is Sami Khedira. The introduction as a second-half substitute against Depor of Lucas Silva, the 21-year-old Brazilian singed last month from Cruzeiro, means he may be plunged into action at some point on Wednesday.
"This team knows how to come back from worse situations than we are in at the moment," insisted Isco. "Though it has been a difficult week." He was applauded off the field, his popularity with madridistas apparently undiminished by the setbacks of the previous seven days, and endorsed by his well-taken goal.
