Anything you can do: Madrid crushes Deportivo, keeps pace with Barcelona

Barcelona threw down the gauntlet earlier Wednesday, and Real Madrid wasted no time taking up the challenge.

After watching the Blaugrana open up a three-point lead at the top of the table with a 7-1 destruction of lowly Osasuna, Zinedine Zidane's heavily rotated side replied with its own dominant showing, as Los Blancos hammered Deportivo, 6-2.

Related - Watch: Messi's chip kicks off Barca's 7-goal onslaught vs. Osasuna

Alvaro Morata, Isco, and James Rodriguez all got the start, and each of the three repaid Zidane's faith by finding the net - the little Spaniard ran the show at the Riazor from his attacking midfield slot, while the Colombian netted a brace.

The win sees Madrid move level with Barcelona on 78 points, though Zidane's men - who were without the rested Cristiano Ronaldo on the day - still have a match in hand on their perennial rivals.