Real Madrid made it five wins from five LaLiga matches after rallying from behind to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday night.
LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad
Date: 17 September 2023
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Madrid recalled Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde in places of Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga as two changes from their win over Getafe. Jude Bellingham shadowed Rodrygo and Joselu upfront.
Los Blancos were caught cold by Sociedad within the first five minutes after Ander Barrenetxea opened the scoring with a strike that was initially saved by Kepa but he poked home the rebound from close-range after a cross by Takefusa Kubo.
In a quick start for La Real, Kubo found the back of the net for the visitors six minutes later with a sensational strike that skimmed past the ducking Mikel Oyarzabal but the goal was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges should have replied on 16 minutes but Joselu, after a cut-back by Dani Carvajal, saw his shot come off the crossbar and Rodrygo missed the gaping net with a bicycle kick at the far post.
The game opened up and Mikel Merino came close to doubling the lead for Imanol Alguacil's men on the half-hour mark with a diving header in the box that was kept out at full-stretch by goalkeeper Kepa.
After a frantic half-an-hour, the game slowed down in the closing 15 minutes of the first stanza, with no big chances, as Sociedad took a narrow lead to the break.
Los Blancos had a perfect start in the second stanza as Valverde eventually levelled matters within a minute from the break with a side-footed shot that went in off the post after a cut-back by Fran Garcia.
The hosts were spirited after that and Joselu gave them the lead on the hour-mark with a free header down towards the bottom corner after a cross by Garcia.
Ancelotti made a double tactical change immediately after that, as he withdrew Joselu and brought on Camavinga while Aurelien Tchouameni made way for Modric.
Sociedad looked tired when they chances to go forward in the closing stages but Madrid had more endurance, as with five minutes left Valverde nearly settled the contest with a low drive in the box that was deflected slightly wide of the near post.
Bellingham, who had scored in all the previous four games for Madrid, came close to netting again in stoppage time with a diving header in the box that was kept out by shot-stopper Alex Remiro.
Los Blancos had the game under control in the tail end as they returned to the top of the table with their fifth win from as many matches, two points ahead of second-placed Barcelona.
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