Deportivo La Coruna 2-8 Real Madrid

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates the third goal of his hat-trick at the Riazor

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick and Gareth Bale's brace helped Real Madrid thrash Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga.

Portugal forward Ronaldo struck either side of James Rodriguez's stunning goal to put Real 3-0 up half-time.

Haris Medunjanin scored a penalty for Deportivo six minutes into the second half before Bale scored twice.

Ronaldo then completed this hat-trick, and there was still time for Deportivo's Jose Verdu Toche to score before Javier Hernandez's late double.

Real had beaten Swiss side Basel 5-1 in the Champions League during the week, but had underperformed in La Liga so far this season.

Carlo Ancelotti's side lost 4-2 to Real Sociedad and 2-1 to champions Atletico Madrid in their previous two matches.

But the hosts were no match for the expensively-assembled side at the Riazor, and were brushed aside as Real scored eight goals in an away match in La Liga for the first time.

Ronaldo, linked with a return to former club Manchester United recently, put Real ahead with a 29th-minute header before Colombia forward Rodriguez curled home a superb effort home from distance.

Deportivo goalkeeper German Lux made a mistake just before the interval which allowed Ronaldo to score a simple third.

Medunjanin pulled a goal back for Deportivo from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after the referee ruled Sergio Ramos had handled in the area before Bale squeezed a low shot in off the far post in the 66th.

The Wales forward notched his second 16 minutes from time when he ran on to a pass from substitute Isco and clipped the ball over Lux into the far corner.

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick four minutes later, Toche headed a second for the hosts in the 84th and Hernandez, who joined on loan from Manchester United on deadline day, came off the bench and scored a quickfire double.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores Real Madrid's first goal against Deportivo with a brilliant header

James Rodriguez also got his name on the scoresheet with Real Madrid's second goal at the Riazor

Gareth Bale makes it five for Real Madrid with a clinical finish

Mexico striker Javier Hernandez celebrates after rounding off the scoring for Real Madrid with a late brace