Substitute Gareth Bale received a mixed reception at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid fought back to defeat Real Sociedad and stay joint-top of La Liga with Barcelona.
Bale was pictured with a flag that read ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order’ while on international duty and was initially jeered by home supporters.
Real’s Karim Benzema cancelled out Willian Jose’s second-minute opener.
Second-half goals from Luka Modric and Federico Valverde then sealed victory.
Earlier on Saturday, reigning champions Barcelona edged past Leganes[1] to move three points ahead of Real.
- Gareth Bale: ‘Disrespectful, misguided, ungrateful’[2]
- Bale: ‘I definitely have a bit more excitement playing for Wales’[3]
Zinedine Zidane’s side made the worst possible start to their bid to keep up with their rivals when Jose intercepted Sergio Ramos’ weak back pass and rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
But Karim Benzema’s goal before half-time – his fifth in three games for Real – was followed by Valverde’s deflected shot and Modric’s well-taken finish as the hosts dominated after the interval.
Bale’s name was jeered by supporters when the team was announced before kick-off and he received a similar response when introduced from the bench after 67 minutes for his first Real appearance since 5 October.
The Wales forward received heavy criticism in the Spanish media after posing with the contentious flag as his country secured qualification for Euro 2020 on Tuesday.
Manager Zidane insisted there was no need to discuss the incident[4] further and by full-time Bale appeared to have earned back some support – receiving applause for the part he played in Modric’s third and also for his defensive efforts as Real closed out the game.
Attention now turns to the Champions League for Zidane’s side, who host Paris St-Germain on Tuesday (20:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Real Madrid
- 13Courtois
- 2Carvajal
- 5Varane
- 4RamosBooked at 52mins
- 23Mendy
- 10ModricSubstituted forIscoat 83′minutes
- 14Casemiro
- 15ValverdeSubstituted forKroosat 76′minutes
- 27RodrygoSubstituted forBaleat 67′minutes
- 9Benzema
- 7E Hazard
Substitutes
- 1Areola
- 3Militão
- 8Kroos
- 11Bale
- 12Marcelo
- 18Jovic
- 22Isco
Real Sociedad
- 1Remiro
- 2ZalduaBooked at 84mins
- 6Elustondo
- 3Llorente
- 20Monreal
- 5Zubeldia
- 8Merino
- 7Portugués ManzaneraSubstituted forJanuzajat 73′minutes
- 21Ødegaard
- 10OyarzabalSubstituted forIsakat 80′minutes
- 9Da Silva
Substitutes
- 11Januzaj
- 12Muñoz
- 13Moyá
- 16Guevara
- 17Zurutuza
- 19Isak
- 24Le Normand
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
- Attendance:
- 69,305
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away16
Live Text
Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Álex Remiro.
Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Isco.
Attempt missed. Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Martin Ødegaard (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Isco.
Foul by Gareth Bale (Real Madrid).
Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Joseba Zaldua (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joseba Zaldua (Real Sociedad).
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mikel Merino.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Luka Modric.
Attempt missed. Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right following a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Willian José.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Alexander Isak replaces Mikel Oyarzabal.
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Daniel Carvajal.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos replaces Federico Valverde.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Karim Benzema with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Adnan Januzaj replaces Portu.
Foul by Luka Modric (Real Madrid).
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Real Madrid. Casemiro tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
Foul by Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid).
Joseba Zaldua (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Gareth Bale replaces Rodrygo.
Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Igor Zubeldia (Real Sociedad).
Offside, Real Madrid. Raphael Varane tries a through ball, but Rodrygo is caught offside.
Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nacho Monreal (Real Sociedad).
Attempt saved. Willian José (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a cross.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Ferland Mendy.
Attempt saved. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Attempt blocked. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodrygo.
References
- ^ Barcelona edged past Leganes (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Gareth Bale: ‘Disrespectful, misguided, ungrateful’ (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Bale: ‘I definitely have a bit more excitement playing for Wales’ (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ no need to discuss the incident (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Real Madrid v Real Sociedad as it happened (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Line-ups (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Match Stats (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Live Text (www.bbc.co.uk)
