First Division - Day 17

Real Madrid 3 - Real Sociedad 1

Madrid: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho, Marcelo; Modric (Casemiro 88’), Kroos, James (Kovacic 59’); Bale, Benzema (Lucas Vázquez 76‘), Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Real: Rulli; Carlos Martínez, Aritz Elustondo, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Xabi Prieto, Illarramendi, Bergara, Canales, (Rubén Pardo 44’); Jonathas (Carlos Vela 68’), Agirretxe (Bruma 18’). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Ronaldo (penalty). After Bale cross deflected on to Yuri’s arm inside area.
1-1. 49. Bruma. Picked up Jonathas pass and curled shot into far top corner of net.
2-1. 67. Ronaldo. Struck first time volley across Rulli from long Marcelo corner.
3-1. 86. Lucas Vázquez. Controlled long Bale cross and steered shot past keeper.

Yellow cards: Yuri 32’, Carlos Martínez 40’, Nacho 56’, Illarramendi 62’.

For the first time in over 25 years there was a round of league matches between Christmas and the New Year, with nine games taking place on Wednesday. The top three sides all won again to maintain the status quo between them, although the lead changed three times during the evening, third placed Real Madrid momentarily overtaking their two rivals Barcelona and Atlético Madrid after beating Real Sociedad 3-1 in the first match of the afternoon. Referee González González turned down what looked like a clear penalty by Pepe on Jonathas early on, but midway through the first half he awarded one at the other end when Yuri and Benzema clashed going for a high cross, Ronaldo firing his kick over the bar. However with the first half coming to a close González gave the locals another controversial penalty when Bale’s cross deflected off Yuri’s foot onto his arm in the area, and this time Ronaldo didn’t miss. Bruma equalized for the visitors though soon after the restart, beating Keylor Navas with an angled shot after picking up a pass from Jonathas, and a few minutes later Yuri felt he should have had another penalty when Pepe brought him down in the box. But soon afterwards Ronaldo volleyed in a Marcelo corner to restore the lead, and Rulli had to save from Benzema before Lucas Vázquez wrapped things up with a third goal, giving under pressure coach Rafa Benítez some breathing space.