Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are playing very wide in these early stages, very much as out and out wingers with Borja Mayoral as a lone striker. It's certainly stretching the visitors and leaving plenty of gaps to attack into.

Archie Thomas: Real Madrid need to keep Ronaldo in the side and put more faith in young wizard Asensio!

This has been a very good opening spell from Gareth Bale. He's involved in every Real Madrid attack - and there's been plenty of them in the first few minutes - the latest of which sees Bale find Luka Modric, who picks out Borja Mayoral with a cutback. Mayoral shoots first time but his effort is straight at the keeper.

Gareth Bale again delivers a quick ball into the box, again looking for Cristiano Ronaldo. He does find his team-mate this time but Ronaldo heads over.

Decent early attack from Real Madrid as Gareth Bale, operating on the right, fires a decent cross over to the far post. He's looking for Cristiano Ronaldo but the Portuguese forward just can't quite reach it.

We're under way.

Cristiano Ronaldo is going through his worst spell of form in La Liga for Real Madrid. He has managed just four goals in 14 appearances - his worst run in nine seasons at the club.

Should he be dropped or he is undroppable? And why do you think Real are struggling at the moment? Send in your thoughts to #bbceurofooty

My hands have just about recovered from the snow/rain showers in gloomy Manchester but it's nice and sunny in Madrid as the players go through their warm ups.

It's BC rather than BBC for Real Madrid today as Karim Benzema has to make do with a place on the bench while Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both start.

Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Bale, Ronaldo, Mayoral. Subs: Casilla, Benzema, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Vazquez, Asensio, Isco, Kovacic

Deportivo: Rubem, Juanfran, Schar, One, Luisinho, Guilherme, Celso Borges, Mosquera, Adrian, Lucas, Andone. Subs:Pantilimon, Navarro, Colak, Carles Gil, Bakkali, Borja Valle, Edu Exposito

Real are actually closer to the relegation zone than they are to the top of the table. Deportivo, who currently occupy the final place in the drop zone, are 16 points behind Zinedine Zidane's side.

It's not been a great start to the year for Real Madrid. They are without a win in La Liga and lost their last home game to Villarreal, leaving them 19 points behind leaders Barcelona.

The title race is as good as over. Lose today and it surely done and dusted.

Image source, Getty Images

Ahh 2017. Twas a very good year for Real Madrid. They collected trophies like confetti.

There may still be plenty of silverware in the cabinet this year but one that more than likely will be missing is that one second from the left - the La Liga trophy.

Still, they keep plugging away and today it's Deportivo La Caruna who roll into town.