Real Madrid 1 - Real Sociedad 1

Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Mejía, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Bravo; Guti, Baptista; Cicinho, Raúl, Robinho; Ronaldo (Cassano 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Riesgo; López Rekarte, Labaka, Ansotegui, Garrido; Mikel Alonso, Garitano; Xabi Prieto (Uranga 75'), Novo (Nihat 65'), Mark González; Skoubo (Viáfara 83'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Michel Salgado, Mejía, Raúl for Roberto Carlos, Beckham, Zidane / Real: Mikel Alonso for Nihat.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Ronaldo. Connected with Zidane free kick to fire ball low inside far post.
1-1. 62. Mark González. Poked ball in to empty net after Casillas dropped cross.

Real Madrid's hopes of catching leaders Barcelona virtually came to an end when they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Real Sociedad, and López Caro's side ended the day in third spot. Starting the weekend in the relegation zone, the visitors were desperate for points, and Mark González tested Casillas a couple of times early on. But midway through the first half their hosts took the lead when Ronaldo swept a shot past Riesgo from Zidane's free kick, his fourth goal in as many games and his one hundredth in a Real Madrid shirt.

Ronaldo almost made it two some five minutes later when he hit the post and put the rebound over the top, but other than a long shot from Baptista the keeper was otherwise untroubled, and Mark González once again went close a couple of times before the break, a header just wide and a long shot which Casillas tipped over the bar.

The Basque side continued to hold their own after the restart, and they got the equaliser they deserved somewhat fortuitously, Mikel Alonso's bouncing cross not appearing to cause many problems until Casillas failed to catch it cleanly, the ball dropping at the feet of González for him to score the easiest of goals.

Ronaldo had limped off minutes earlier, and his replacement Cassano slipped when free in front of goal soon afterwards. Robinho also wasted a couple of chances, shooting from a tight angle with Raúl unmarked in the area, and heading another effort over the bar. But when Guti got himself sent off for insulting the referee near the end it was all over, and many fans didn't wait until the final whistle before leaving the ground.