ANOTHER Sergio Ramos late show secured an unconvincing 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna as Real Madrid struggled in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

    Meanwhile, Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona recorded its first win in four La Liga games to close to within three points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 win at Osasuna.

    Barca should have killed the game off in the first half as Luis Suarez and Messi missed two big chances each against La Liga’s bottom side.

    However, Suarez rounded off a fine team move to break the deadlock just before the hour before Messi’s double in the final 17 minutes moved him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as La Liga’s top scorer with 11 for the season.

    It was the first time since May 2014 that Madrid had started a La Liga game with neither Bale or the rested Ronaldo and Benzema in their line-up, and they were indebted to late goals from Mariano Diaz and Sergio Ramos to secure a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten.

    Madrid enjoyed the greater share of possession, but Deportivo — sensing they will not have many better opportunities to get a result at the Bernabeu with the hosts’ star trio absent — gave a good account of themselves.

    Deportivo thought they had been made to rue missed opportunities just after the break, as Alvaro Morata put an anonymous first half behind him with a stunning long-range strike.

    But two goals from former Madrid prospect Joselu with just over an hour played turned the match on its head and left the hosts rattled.

    However, Zinedine Zidane’s bold attacking tactics towards the end paid off, as Mariano levelled and then Ramos — also Madrid’s last-gasp savior in El Clasico last week — secured the win, ensuring the club’s unbeaten record remains intact ahead of Thursday’s Club World Cup semifinal.

    Although Madrid’s start was bright, they needed a helping hand from some calamitous defending to craft their first chance.

    Juanfran hesitated in the Deportivo area and his attempted clearance was charged down by Nacho Fernandez, but the Spain international delayed his shot and Raul Albentosa made a vital block.

    Deportivo posed a threat on the break despite Madrid’s control and went close to finding the breakthrough just before the half-hour mark, as Celso Borges directed Albentosa’s low cross towards the bottom-left corner, only for his Costa Rica teammate Keylor Navas to palm it around the post. (SD-Agencies)