Real Madrid kept their title hopes alive with a confident 4-0 win over Real Sociedad after a rocky start at the Estadio Anoeta, in a La Liga clash on Saturday.
Real Sociedad and Real Madrid both surprisingly struggled to create any real clear cut chances in the opening exchanges.
Sociedad had to wait till the 22nd minute before they registered their first real effort at goal when Mexican forward Carlos Vela crossed in a dangerous ball which Antoine Grietzman managed to get his header to. Unfortunately the French winger’s header beat Diego Lopez in goal but went just over the crossbar.
Vela then had the first shot on target of the game in the 42nd minute but the former Arsenal’s man shot was blocked by Asier Illarramendi on its way through to Lopez and ended up a comfortable save for the Real shot-stopper.
Griezman then came close a minute later for the hosts but Illarramendi was on hand to deflect the ball out for a corner-kick.
Real then broke the deadlock against the run of play with former Sociedad player Illarramendi poking a rebound home in the last minute of the first-half, after a good shot by Karim Benzema.
The visitors then came close to doubling their lead with just four minutes played in the second-half as Sergio Ramos rose highest in the box before crashing his header against the crossbar.
Los Blancos hit the woodwork once more in the 65th minute as Benzema saw his fierce left-footed effort crash off the crossbar after making space before letting fly from 25 yards.
Gareth Bale then made sure of all three points to keep Real in the title hunt as he pounced on a poor clearance by Sociedad keeper Bravo, and beat the keeper from range to make it 2-0 to the visitors with 67 minutes on the clock.
Pepe added a third for the visitors as he steered home a headed flick-on from Ramos following a corner in the 85th minute.
Substitute striker Alvaro Morata then made it 4-0 after a good run and fine finish thanks to a defence splitting pass from fellow substitute Angel Di Maria.
Alberto Bueno grabbed a brace as 10 men Rayo Vallecano beat Celta Vigo 3-0 at home in Saturday’s final La Liga clash. Ruben Rochina opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Bueno’s double and Rayo also had Razvan Rat sent off in the 64th minute.
