Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao scored five times as Deportivo La Coruna were put to the sword at the Vicente Calderon tonight.
© AP Photos
Diego Costa gave Diego Simeone's side a deserved advantage on 23 minutes with a towering far-post header.
Deportivo responded well and could have equalised through Juan Carlos Valeron, who struck the post on the half hour.
The Falcao show began on 30 minutes when the in-form striker punished the visitors with a fine finish after Gabi's incisive through-ball.
The Colombian hitman doubled his tally just before the break, cutting inside on the edge of the area before curling a thumping strike into the corner.
A composed penalty gave Falcao his hat-trick just past the hour before a poacher's header gave the forward his fourth three minutes later.
There was no let up for Deportivo as a merciless Falcao scored his fifth and Atletico's sixth when he robbed possession and slammed home on 71 minutes.
A shell-shocked Deportivo denied Falcao a double hat-trick in the closing stages but were still on the end of a punishing 6-0 scoreline.
Liam Power
