Real Madrid's expensive team squeezed through their first competitive test last night when goals from Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lassana Diarra earned a 3-2 La Liga win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Real started their opening match of the season briskly, with Brazilian playmaker Kaka looking particularly dangerous, and some poor defending from visiting Depor gifted them the lead in the 26th minute.

Kaka's pass should have been cleared but the ball fell to Karim Benzema and Raul was on hand to tap in the rebound when the Frenchman's shot came back off a post.

Riki was left unmarked four minutes later to head Juca's deep cross past Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas before Raul was felled by Depor keeper Daniel Aranzubia and Ronaldo stroked the resulting 35th-minute penalty into the bottom left corner.

Depor stunned Real with a second equaliser immediately after the restart. Mexican midfielder Jose Guardado picked out Juan Carlos Valeron on the edge of the area and he drilled a superb shot low past Casillas.

Diarra restored the home side's advantage on the hour when he rounded Juca and struck a powerful shot into the far corner.