Real Madrid took the lead in the championship race with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday evening. The Royals were in good form and ended the Basques’ winning streak.
Real had to do without Mbappé, who had recently been injured. The Frenchman was on the bench and could have come on in an emergency, but in the end, the Royal’s top striker was not needed because his teammates put in a really good performance and left no doubt as to who would emerge victorious.
The Blancos got off to a perfect start, with Goncalo scoring the opening goal after just five minutes. The Basques, who have been playing extremely well under coach Pellegrino Matarazzo and had not lost any of their last eleven games, shook it off briefly and then equalized: After a foul by Huijsen on Herrara, Oyarzabal thundered home a penalty (21′).
But Real did not let that throw them off course and were also awarded a penalty shortly afterwards when Aramburu pulled Vinicius Junior’s legs away in the penalty area. The Brazilian took the penalty himself and made it 2-1 (25′). The Royals put in a really good performance and were rewarded a third time before the break: Fede Valverde’s fine curling shot found the right corner to make it 3-1 at the break (31′).
Vinicius Junior again from the spot
The second half had barely begun when Real were awarded another penalty, Aramburu again bringing down Vinicius Junior. Once again, the Brazilian took the penalty himself and converted it (48′). This early 4-1 lead for the favorites meant that the game was effectively decided early on.
The game then went back and forth, but neither team managed to score again. Real thus took the lead in the title race and ended the Basques’ unbeaten run of eleven games. For Los Blancos, it was their eighth league win in a row.
And what’s next? Real face Benfica Lisbon in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday (9 p.m.). San Sebastian host Real Oviedo on Saturday (2 p.m.).