Real Madrid's Team Captain Raul Gonzalez started the Spanish La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruña on the bench as part of Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster's rotation strategy. Real Madrid's Raul was brought in by Schuster on the 65th minute to replace Real Madrid striker Javier Saviola, and it was Raul who broke the 1-1 deadlock within minutes of his entry into the game to help Real Madrid claim a 3-1 win against Deportivo La Coruña to keep their hopes of a second consecutive Spanish La Liga Championship by leading the Primera Liga standings.

However, it was Deportivo who were the first to make a goal in the match at the Santiago Bernabeu to stun the home crowd. Deportivo's Xisco picked up a cut-back from team mate Joan Verdu and avoided the challenge of Real Madrid centre-back Christoph Metzelder before firing through the legs of Iker Casillas to make the score 1-0.

Bernd Schuster's side did not have to wait long for an equaliser when last season's Spanish La Liga top goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy made the score 1-1 six minutes later with a kick from the penalty spot.

Despite that blow, Deportivo continued to bring the fight to Real Madrid with Deportivo's Joan Verdu testing Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos had two efforts thwarted by Deportivo goalkeeper Dudu Aouate, and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also had his attempts blocked. Real Madrid Brazilian superstar Robinho then almost gave Real the lead with a shot from outside the area that hit the Deportivo crossbar.

The deadlock wasbroken by Real Madrid team captain Raul in the 79th minute when Real Madrid's Ruud vanNistelrooy combined with Raul to beat Deportivo keeper Dudu Aouate to make the score 2-1. Deportivo were then reduced to 10 men following the ejection of Sergio from the match, and Real Madrid were able to take advantage of the extra player. In the 89th minute, Real Madrid were awarded another goal when Real Madrid's Robinho played an amazing one-two with Guti.

Real Madrid's win improves their first-place standing in the Spanish Primera Liga to 22 points. Following them at 2nd place is Barcelona who has a total of 20 points following a 2-0 home victory at the Nou Camp against Almeria.

Real Madrid's next La Liga match will be any away-match against Valencia. To bet on Real Madrd vs. Valencia and other Spanish La Liga matches, click here.

Well, the unbeaten streak wasn't going to last forever, and it was just going to be a matter of time before Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid would be handed their first loss of the 2007-08 of the Spanish La Liga. Real Madrid's first loss in 8 matches came courtesy of Espanyol, who are ranked 5th in the league with a total of 16 points after collecting the entire 3 points from their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at their home pitch in Montjuic.

Real Madrid head coach Bernd Schuster commented, "I don't think the international matches took a toll. We can't make excuses for the defeat. We lost against an Espanyol team that played a great match. We can't look back. Being a part of Real Madrid entails going through games like these, and we just have to deal with it."

Indeed, Espanyol was a hard team for Real Madrid, and two minutes into the match, Espanyol scored an early goal when Espanyol's Luis Garcia kicked a corner into the penalty area and Espanyol's Albert Riera was able to rise above everyone to head it into the near post beyond the reach of Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Espanyol doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute when Espanyol captain Raul Tamudo controlled a pass from Valdo and chipped a shot over the head of Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.

Real Madrid had some fine offense care of Real Madrid team captain Raul Gonzalez, forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, but were not able to produce a goal. Los Merengues Real Madrid eventually found a last-minute goal when Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos poked in a corner from Guti.

Real Madrid still maintain the top spot of the Spanish La Liga standings with 19 points. 2nd place Barcelona failed to overtake Real Madrid after Barca lost to Villareal 3-1. Instead, Villareal take the 2nd spot away from Barcelona and are tied with Valencia with 18 points. Barcelona are at 4th spot with 17 points.

Real Madrid's next match will be a UEFA Champions League group stage qualifier against Greece Super League champions Olympiacos at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 24.

Real Madrid's next Spanish La Liga match will be against Deportivo La Coruña on October 27, also at the Santiago Bernabeu. On October 31st, Real Madrid will be visitors at Mestalla when they go up against Valencia.

To bet on Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos and other UEFA Champions League qualifiers, click here.

To bet on Real Madrid vs. Deportivo ang other Spanish La Liga matches, click here.

The Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Real Madrid will certainly be at full capacity on Wednensday, October 24, when Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid host Greek Super League champions Olympiacos for a group stage match of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League tournament.

Real Madrid and Olympiacos both lead Group C of the UEFA Champions League with 4 points, and their Ocotber 24 match at the Santiago Bernabeu could result with one of them taking the solo lead for Group C.

Real Madrid's last UEFA Champions league was an away match at Italian Serie A Club Lazio and resulted in a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Olympiacos was able to upset German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen 3-1 in Germany in order to move up to 4 points and tie Real Madrid at the top of Group C.

Real Madrid look to have the home-pitch advantage at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Olympiacos is looking to be in top form against the Madridsta's with the likes of Ieroklis Stoltidis, Darko Kovacevic, Christos Patsatzoglo, Luciano Galleti, Raul Bravo and Lomana LuaLua to help the Olympiacos campaign.

Of course, Real Madrid will be relying on this season's current Champions League top goal scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, UEFA Champions League all-time goal scoring leader Raul and a stellar cast that includes Julio Baptista, Wesley Sneijder, Sergio Ramos, Guti and Fabio Cannavaro.

La Liga champions Real Madrid have not yet lost at the Santiago Bernabeu in their Spanish La Liga campaign, and they were successful last September for their first Champions League home match of the season against Werder Bremen, beating the German Bundesliga side 2-1. Definitely, it won't be easy for Olympiacos to score an away win at the Santiago Bernabeu, given the recent results of Real Madrid at home. However, there's always a first time for everything, and maybe Real Madrid's first loss at home this season might be given by an inspired Olympiacos side.

Olympiacos haven't lost a game this season, but they're 2 wins and 2 draws standing in the Greek Super League only finds them at 3rd place in the standings.

To bet on Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos, and other UEFA Champions League matches, click here.