Real Madrid overcame an early red card to defeat Real Sociedad in a wild match that saw seven goals scored and two players sent off.
Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad: Final score 4-3, Los Blancos win a wild one
Despite having starting goalkeeper Antonio Adán sent off in the opening minutes, Real Madrid were simply too much for Sociedad
Denis Doyle
The talk before kick-off was all about Iker Casillas starting on the bench for the second straight match but Real Madrid's attack wasted little time turning attention elsewhere. In the 2nd minute Sami Khedira connected with Karim Benzema in the Sociedad box who time his run perfectly to defuse Sociedad's rather poor offside trap attempt. Benzema easily put shit shot past Claudio Bravo.
Four minutes later Iker Casillas was in the match...seriously.
Antonio Adán made an ill-advised challenge, taking out Carlos Vela on a breakaway. The referee wasted no time awarding a penalty and showing a straight red card to Adán. Casillas came off the bench and as much as many wanted him to save the penalty, he was easily beaten by Xabi Prieto as Soceidad pulled even at 1-1.
Despite being down a man, Madrid looked the better side and took the lead back in the 35th minute. Ricardo Carvalho's shot on goal off a corner kick was neatly redirected by Khedira with a nice back heel. Khedira was only a couple yards from goal and Bravo had no time to react the sudden change of direction on the ball.
The lead was shortlived.
Sociedad equalized in the 40th minute after Alberto de la Bella’s was deflected just outside the box and bounced right to Prieto who buried his shot in to the open net.
Madrid had a great chance to take the lead back right before halftime on a quick counter attack off a Sociedad corner. Benzema’s initial shot from 20-yards out hammered off the post rebounding right to Khedira who was clearly frightened by the completely empty net in front of him. Instead of putting the ball away, he completed shanked his shot, sending miles wide for a goal kick.
Madrid finally did take back in the lead in the 68th minute as Benzema fought off a challenge from David Zurutuza in the midfield before lofting a pass over the defense to a charging Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo ran right on to the pass and beat Bravo with a shot inside the far post.
Two minutes later Ronaldo finished off the match with one of his trademark brilliant free kicks. The play was set-up after Ronaldo was taken down by Mikel González just outside the left corner of Soceidad box. Ronaldo lined up his shot and beat Bravo with a shot that hit off the underside of the cross bar and in to the net, making the score 4-2.
Sociedad pulled a goal back in the 76th minute as Xabi Prieto completed his hat trick. Gonzalo Castro found Prieto with a great pass right on the foot of Prieto who raced past the Madrid defensive line. Prieto finished with a perfectly placed shot that beat Casillas and snuck in just inside the far post.
Both teams were down to 10-men after Sociedad’s Daniel Estrada was shown a second yellow card in the 79th minute after clattering in to Ronaldo on the left wing. Without the man advantage Sociedad were unable to mount enough attack to find the equalizer and Madrid escaped with the victory.
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