Full-time at the Bernabeu: Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over and Real Madrid have won the three points that send them top of the table for a couple of hours at least. As real Madrid performances go, this one was far from convincing. Real Sociedad gave them plenty to think about and consider themselves very unlucky to have lost two of their most creative players to injury before going behind to a spot-kick that should not have been awarded. Despite occasionally slapstick defending, a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and one goal from Lucas Vazquez were enough to see Real Madrid past a game Real Sociedad side whose goal came from Bruma.
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90+2 min: We’re in the second of three recommended added minutes. Substitution I forgot to mention in all the excitement: Casemiro for Modric two minutes ago.
90 min: Real Madrid win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Real Sociedad goal. After giving it the full Jonny Wilkinson, he eventually hammers the ball high and wide of the goal.
88 min: That was an excellent finish by Vazquez, but Gareth Bale’s wonderful cross from the left touchline was sublime too. Galloping down the touchline, he welted a cross into the penalty area and will have been delighted to see Vazquez squirm between two defenders, kill the ball stone dead with his first touch and then slot it past the onrushing Geronimo Pulli with his second. A wonderful assist and an even better finish.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad (Vazquez 86)
The substitute Lucas Vazquez wraps up the points for Real Madrid with a wonderful goal that was created by Gareth Bale. That’s his first goal for Real Madrid.
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84 min: Lucas Vazquez shimmies along the edge of the Real Sociedad penalty area, attempting to make room for a shot. He eventually does so, but his low drive is blocked.
82 min: Carlos Vela tees up Ruben Pardo in the Real Madrid penalty area, but the substitute’s low drive is deflected out for a corner. The delivery, when it comes, is fired straight into the arms of Keylor Navas at the near post.
78 min: Real Madrid claim they should have another penalty for hand-ball when Ruben Pardo handles accidentally while contesting the ball in his own penalty area. The referee doesn’t give one, despite awarding one in similar circumstances earlier in the match.
77 min: Real Madrid win a corner, which Marcelo sends into the penalty area from the left. Sociedad clear.
75 min: Gareth Bale attempts to pick out Cristiano Ronaldo with a cross from the right, but his delivery is intercepted. Real Madrid substitution: Karim Benzema off, Lucas Vazquez on in midfield.
73 min: Bad news for Sergio Canales, who was forced off in the first half after damaging his knee. Early reports suggest he’s ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, which means he’ll be out for the rest of this season and will almost certainly miss the start of next season.
70 min: Real Sociedad substitution: Carlos Vela on for Jonathas
69 min: That was a fine goal, which game against the run of play. Marcelo’s corner went deep and while back-pedalling, he struck a low diagonal volley with his weaker left foot. the ball fizzed through the crowded penalty area beyond the reach of Rulli.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad (Ronaldo 68)
From the corner, Cristiano Ronaldo scores with a wonderful volley that travels through a thicket of legs and into the bottom left-hand corner.
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66 min: Carlos Martinez puts the ball out for a corner, getting down to poke it off the toe of Karim Benzema as the Frenchman attempted to slalom through on goal from the left.
64 min: Navas is called upon to save his team’s bacon again, this time saving from Illaramendi. He’s been kept busy in the first half of this second period, which is perhaps a reflection on the confidence with which Real Sociedad have been playing, not to mention the shambolic attempts at defending by those in front of him.
63 min: The Real Madrid faithful are getting exceedingly restless. Benitez’s decision to substitute James Rodriguez was meet with jeers and whistles and boos continue to echo around the Bernabeu.
61 min: Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illaramendi has his name taken for some indiscretion or other.
60 min: Karim Benzema heads straight at Rulli in his bid to convert a Kovacic cross from the left.
58 min: Real Madrid substitution: James Rodriguez off, Mateo Kovacic on.
57 min: Good save from Geronimo Rulli, who does splendidly to get a hand to a Gareth Bale drive from the edge of the penalty area.
56 min: Nacho gets booked for a wild lunge on Yuri Berchiche.
54 min: Danilo is out-jumped as he contests a long ball down the pitch and loses the header, allowing Bruma to sprint on to a flick on from Jonathas. He takes a touch too many, allowing Keylor Navas to dash off his line and throw himself at the Portuguese winger’s feet and claim the ball. It’s a good save, but Bruma made it too easy for him.
52 min: It’s probably safe to say that Rafael Benitez will be pointing his Big Finger O’Blame for Real Sociedad’s equaliser at Pepe, who was outmuscled by Jonathas in the build-up to the goal. Of course, in the current climate, there’s a very good chance Benitez will let Pepe off the hook and blame an Illuminati conspiracy instead.
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50 min: Marcelo hammers in a cross from the left flank, attempting to pick out Ronaldo at the far post. Real Madrid’s goalscorer is unable to convert from a narrow angle and his effort goes wide.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad (Bruma 49)
That’s a wonderful goal from Bruma, who is given the freedom of the Real Madrid penalty area to curl the ball around Navas and into the top right-hand corner after picking up a deflected pass from Jonathas. It’s all square at the Bernabeu and no more than Real Sociedad deserve.
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46 min: With a foul on Bruma, Luka Modric concedes a free-kick about five yards outside the Real Madrid penalty area, to the right of the D. Pardo the substitute curls the ball around the Real Madrid defensive wall, but high and wide of the upright.
Second half: Real Madrid 1-0 Real Sociedad
The visitors get the ball rolling for the second half at the Bernabeu.
An email from Tom Harp
“Clearly today’s referee is not part of the anti-Rafa brigade,” he writes. He’s not wrong, Senor Gonzalez Gonzalez seems quite the homer.
Half-time at the Bernabeu: Real Madrid 1-0 Real Sociedad
After an eventful half in which both sides had their chances and luckless Real Sociedad lost two players to injury, Real Madrid lead courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. It was his second effort from the spot, having sent his first one high over the crossbar. Real Madrid can consider themselves very fortunate to be ahead, as the penalty from which they scored should never have been awarded.
45+1 min: It’s worth repeating that the penalty awarded to Real was extremely harsh. Bale attempted to cross from the right wing and his effort was blocked at close range by Yuri. The ball ricocheted off the left-back’s thigh and up on to his arm, but the referee pointed to the spot despite the handball being completely involuntary and accidental. There was little or nothing the Real Socidad defender could have done to avoid it.
44 min: Shortly before Ronaldo gave Real Madrid, Real Sociedad lost another of their creative players. Sergio Canales pulled up with what appeared to be a serious knee injury and was quickly stretchered off. He’s just been replaced by Ruben Pardo, a central midfielder.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Sociedad (Ronaldo 42pen)
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t make any mistake this time, slotting home comfortably from 12 yards. Corrections and clarifications: It wasn’t Yuri who was booked, so he’s still on the field. In fact it was Carlos Martinez who was shown the yellow card, presumably for dissent. Apologies for any confusion caused.
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Another penalty for Real Madrid ...
While attempting to block a Gareth Bale cross, Yuri accidentally handles the ball. He gets a ludicrous second booking and Real have another penalty.
38 min: Luka Modric forces a save from Rulli with a powerful drive.
37 min: Having been under the cosh for quite some time, Real Sociedad have worked their way back into this game since Ronaldo’s penalty miss. Before that, they looked in danger of being completely overwhelmed, but they’ve done well since, creating a few chances while defending very well. Real Sociedad right-back Carlos Martinez is doing a good job in keeping Ronaldo shackled.
34 min: Jonathas sends a downward header flashing wide of the upright after leaping to head a splendid Yuri cross from the left.
33 min: A promising three-on-three Real Sociedad counter-attack breaks down when Bruma sends in a wayward cross from the left that evades Sergio Canales, its intended target.
31 min: It’s been an eventful half hour for Real Sociedad left-back Yuri, who picks up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Gareth Bale.
30 min: Real Madrid win a corner after Karim Benzema runs down a blind alley. The balls swung out to the edge of the penalty area, where Pepe gets his head to the ball but is unable to control his effort. Real Sociedad clear.
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28 min: Prieto gets on the ball again, this time sending in an inviting cross from the right for Bruma to attack. The substitute gets the jump on Pepe, but steers his header over the bar. He should have done better.
27 min: For Real Sociedad, Xabi Prieto cuts in from the right touchline and attempts to pick out Sergio Canales, but his pass is intercepted by Nacho.
24 min: Cristiano Ronaldo can’t quite believe he missed that penalty - he doesn’t look best pleased, but will presumably find somebody else to blame. It was a soft enough spot-kick to concede; Yuri’s challenge on Benzema was lazy. The Frenchman was attempting to head a Bale cross goalwards and the Real Sociedad left-back just barged into him instead of contesting the header. It was unquestionably a foul, but Benzema’s collapse to the ground was nothing if not theatrical.
Ronaldo skies the penalty ...
Cristiano Ronaldo steps up to take the spot-kick and sends his right-footed effort high over the bar.
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Penalty for Real Madrid ...
While attempting to get on the end of a Bale cross from the left, Karim Benzema crumples under a challenge from Yuri Berchiche, who shoved him in the back.
21 min: Correction: Bruma is a winger, which means that Real Sociedad are now playing with just one striker, Jonathas, having started the game with two up front.
18 min: Ronaldo does his pouty “woe is me” face after failing to get on the end of a less-than-perfect Danilo cross from the right that’s put out for a corner before it reaches the Portuguese goal machine. Real Sociedad substitution: Bruma on for Iamanol Agirretexe. Bruma’s a 21-year-old Portuguese striker on loan at Sociedad from Galatasaray.
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15 min: It looks as if Real Sociedad striker Agirritexe’s afternoon is over. Following that Keylor Navas challenge, he’s been taken to the sideline on a stretcher to receive treatment on his left ankle.
14 min: Yuri Berchiche sends in a cross from the left, prompting Imanol Agirretexe to roll Pepe and find himself in a couple of yards of space in front of goal with only Keylor Navas to beat. The goalkeeper rushes off his line to take out man and ball. A case for a penalty? Perhaps, but none is forthcoming.
12 min: Wonderful skill from Marcelo, who does brilliantly to keep a curling cross-field pass from James Rodriguez in play with a backward header to Gareth Bale.
11 min: Real Sociedad full-back Yuri Berchiche, who has never scored a goal, tries his luck with a wild shot from distance. his powerful effort is blocked by Pepe, who is felled by the venomous shot. Good work, Yuri!
9 min: Rulli is pressed into service again, this time denying Karim Benzema.
8 min: Ronaldo squanders the kind of chance you’d expect him to bury in his sleep! With Real attacking on the break, Bale galloped up the inside right flank to pick up a beautifully weighted through-ball from James Rodriguez, before squaring the ball for Ronaldo, who was up in support. With just the goalkeeper to beat from a few yards out, the Portuguese made it easy for Rulli, shooting straight at him.
7 min: Real Sociedad are gifted possession in the centre-circle, courtesy of a poor Keylor Navas goal-kick.
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5 min: Real Madrid go close from the corner. Pepe leaps highest in the penalty area, sending a good header goalwards, which forces Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to palm the ball over his own crossbar. From the ensuing corner, the ball goes out of play off Gareth Bale.
4 min: The game has yet to settle, but Real Sociedad have started quite brightly. They’ve also conceded the first corner of the game, with Gareth Bale doing the honours.
2 min: Sergio Canales attempts a shot on Real Madrid’s goal from distance, but he’s off balance and his effort goes horribly wide. Real Madrid’s players line up in their customary home strip of white shirts, shorts and socks, while their opponents are are kitted out in a kind of burgundy affair with light blue trim.
1 min: Real Madrid get play under way at the Bernabeu, where Rafael Benitez was roundly jeered by the home fans when his name was announced over the Tannoy.
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - line-ups
Real Madrid: Navas, Pepe, Nacho, Marcelo, Danilo, Kroos, Rodriguez, Modric, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.
Subs: Casilla, Varane, Casemiro, Kovacic, Vazquez, Isco, Jese
Real Sociedad: Rulli, C. Martinez, I. Martinez, Berchiche, Elustondo, Illarramendi, Bergara, Prieto, Canales, Agirretxe, Jonathas.
Subs: Oier, Hector, Reyes, De la Bella, Bruma, Pardo, Vela.
Referee: Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez (so good they named him twice)
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XI #RealSociedad 1-Rulli 2-C. Martínez 4-Illarra 5-Markel 6-Iñigo 9-Agirretxe 10-X.Prieto (c) 16-Canales 19-Yuri 22-Jonathas 30-Aritz
— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) December 30, 2015
¡Este es nuestro once inicial para el partido contra la Real Sociedad! 📝 #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/LgE509Rokg
— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) December 30, 2015
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - preview
After a short Christmas break, La Liga resumes with Real Madrid taking on Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. A win for Rafael Benitez’s third-placed side will send them top of the table for a few hours at least, with league leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid slated to play Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano respectively later this evening.
Having overseen three defeats in his side’s past six La Liga matches, Benitez is a manager under pressure and there were echoes of his famous “facts” press conference of yore when he faced the media yesterday to claim “there is a campaign against [club president] Florentino Perez, against myself and against the team”. Elaborating, he added that “everything is manipulated and it’s there for all to see”, before insisting that his relationship with his employers is good. And with his players? “The relationship with the players is infinitely better than what you read in the papers”.
Real’s opponents from San Sebastian have had mixed results since Eusebio Mena was appointed successor to David Moyes in November, winning two and drawing one of the five league games he’s been in charge. Their most recent result was a home reverse at the hands of Villarreal, which left them in 14th place in the table, ust two points clear of the relegation zone.
Kick-off is at 3pm (GMT), but we’ll have team news just as soon as we get it.
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