Real Madrid 3 - Real Sociedad 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera (Guti 85'), Makelele (Celades 82'); Figo (Munitis 87'), Zidane, Raúl; Morientes. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Kvarme (Gurrutxaga 65'), Luiz Alberto, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Idiakez; Khokhlov, Tayfun, De Pedro (Gabilondo 65'); Jankauskas (De Paula 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: No change / Real Sociedad: Kvarme, De Pedro for Gurrutxaga, Aranburu.

Goals:
0-1. 39. Khokhlov. Took pass from right and turned before shooting low.
1-1. 45. Kvarme (own goal). Intercepted Raúl's through ball past own keeper.
2-1. 60. Raúl. Received throw in from left and shot under Alberto's legs.
3-1. 77. Figo (penalty). After Rekarte ruled to have pushed down Zidane.

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Real Sociedad on Saturday night and move back to the top of the table pending Sunday's games. Del Bosque put their midweek defeat at Nástic behind him and put out his first choice line up, looking to make it five league wins in a row and consolidate their recent revival. They were surprised though by a motivated Real side, which was also up to full strength with the return of Kvarme and De Pedro after their respective injuries. Madrid did start well, and with Liverpool's Westerveld rumoured to be moving to San Sebastian, Alberto did his best to convince his manager that a change of keeper was not needed with three or four magnificent saves. However Roberto Carlos almost put through his own net, his header from Tayfun's corner hitting the bar, and Khokhlov put the visitors in front six minutes from the break with a coolly taken goal.

Before referee Muñiz Fernández blew his whistle however, Real's Kvarme did what the Madrid forwards could not, beating Alberto as he tried to cut out Raúl's pass. And the keeper's luck appeared to have run out as Madrid scored again fifteen minutes in to the second half, Morientes taking a quick throw in to Raúl who ran on to shoot between the keeper's legs from a wide angle. That broke the Basque side's spirit, and Figo added a third from the penalty spot after the referee ruled that López Rekarte had pushed down Zidane. In the last minute Casillas saved well from an Idiakez free kick, and that was the end of the game. Despite playing well Toshack's side had lost their tenth of the season, and the defeat leaves them further adrift in next to bottom place.