Real Madrid further distanced themselves from the rest of LaLiga on Saturday night. The Royal saw Karim Benzema drop out injured early in the game and was again taken by the hand by Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian provided the opening goal with a brilliant inspiration, while Luka Jovic decided the game moments later: 0-2. Leader Real Madrid is eight points clear of Sevilla, which is still in action on Sunday. Sociedad has now descended to fifth place.
In the first half, both teams held each other out with 100 percent chances. The best opportunity was for Luka Modric, who produced a weak volley after a good header from Vinícius Júnior. Real Madrid had to deal with a setback after more than fifteen minutes, when attack leader Benzema was replaced with apparently minor knee problems. Sociedad gradually became stronger in the first half and immediately created chaos in Real Madrid’s sixteen. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois struggled to tap away a high ball, after which Mikel Oyarzabal hit the side net in the rebound.
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Real Madrid start the second half strong and quickly take a 1-0 lead ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #RealSociedadRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Wi9io8fSEU— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Dec 4, 2021
Three minutes after the break, Vinicius opened the score. The wing striker dribbled in from the left and skilfully passed the ball to Jovic. The replacement for Benzema managed to tap back to Vinícius in the crowds, who was able to print: 0-1. It didn’t take Real long to make their second of the evening. A corner by Toni Kroos was headed to the far post by Casemiro, where Jovic put his head against it: 0-2.
Imanol Alguacil made four substitutions at Sociedad shortly afterwards in an attempt to turn the tide, but the Basques continued to struggle to make a fist. Alexander Isak tried with a hard shot that went far over. Vinicius should have made his second in the closing stages after a good cross from Éder Militão, but the attacker fired one-on-one right at Alex Remiro.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 39 |
| 2 | Seville | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 31 |
| 3 | Real Betis | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 30 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 29 |
| 5 | Real Sociedada | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
| 6 | Rayo Vallecano | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 7 | Barcelona | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 23 |
| 8 | Athletic Club | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -4 | 20 |
| 11 | Valencia | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 12 | Real Majorca | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | -7 | 19 |
| 13 | Villarreal | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | -1 | 16 |
| 14 | Celta de Vigo | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 16 |
| 15 | Granada | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Alaves | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -9 | 14 |
| 17 | Elche | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -9 | 12 |
| 18 | Cadiz | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -14 | 12 |
| 19 | getafe | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -9 | 10 |
| 20 | Levante | 15 | 0 | 7 | 8 | -15 | 7 |