Real Madrid probably expected something resembling a test from Champions League side Real Sociedad, but they were absolutely dominant in the first half, leading to a very calm and pedestrian second. The hosts had a 4-0 lead after just 36 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu and went on to clinch a comfortable 5-1 win, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a hat trick in the process.
Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad: Final score 5-1, La Real no match for Los Merengues
Champions League and a top four challenge is proving to be too much for Real Sociedad. They got steamrolled by Real Madrid on Saturday as Cristiano Ronaldo had a hat trick.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
Madrid's first came from Ronaldo as part of a beautiful move 12 minutes in. He had switched flanks with Gareth Bale, probably confusing the La Real defense enough that he found a bit of space off the ball. Karim Benzema found him with a chip to the back post and he finished with a half-volley from a narrow angle. From there, it got ugly.
Ronaldo set up Benzema for Madrid's second six minutes later, and they won a penalty a further eight minutes after that, which Ronaldo converted for his second, after a handball in the box by Markel Bergara Larrañaga. Sami Khedira finished the first half scoring in the 36th minute, smashing a shot in from the edge of the box after he was played in by Bale with a pretty one-touch pass.
Antoine Griezmann should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when he was tripped in the box by Diego Lopez, but nothing was given. He took matters into his own hands less than a minute later, scoring Real Sociedad's only goal on the night by winning a race to a diagonal ball that deflected off Pepe and chipping Lopez.
It didn’t lead to any kind of comeback for the visitors, who would concede once more before the game was done. Ronaldo completed his hat trick in the 76th minute, curling in a free kick from just under 25 yards.
Real Madrid: Lopez, Arbeloa, Varane, Pepe, Carvajal, Modric, Alonso (Illaramendi 70’), Khedira (Isco 77’), Ronaldo, Benzema (Morata 83’), Bale
Goals: Ronaldo (12’, penalty 27’, 76’), Benzema (18’), Khedira (36’)
Real Sociedad: Bravo, Gonzalez, I. Martinez, C. Martinez (Ansotegui 59’), Angel, Urkola (de la Bella 46’), Larrañaga, Prieto, Greizmann, Vela, Seferovic (Zurutuza 46’)
Goals: Griezmann (61’)
More in Soccer:
See More:
