Rodriguez beginning to make Real Madrid mark

Expectations were unsurprisingly sky high when Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez joined Real Madrid from Monaco after top scoring with six goals at the 2014 World Cup.

 Real, who play at Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday, snapped up the golden boot winner for a fee of around 80 million euros ($103 million) and fans were eager to see the goals flowing from the boot of the gifted 23-year-old.

 However, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti is having to reorganise his team after the exits of midfielders Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria and Rodriguez, who is known by his first name James, has taken time to settle.

 Rodriguez scored in the Spanish Super Cup first leg against Atletico Madrid last month but it was his performance against FC Basle in the Champions League on Tuesday, when he netted Real's fourth goal in a thumping 5-1 win, that suggested he may be finding his feet at his new club.

"I played a good match," Rodriguez, whose boyish good looks mean he will be an integral part of Real's marketing strategy, told reporters at the Bernabeu.

 "I think everything came off for us and as a group we did everything well," he added. "We hope to continue like this and keep scoring goals. This match gives us confidence for what lies ahead."