Madrid: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Nacho; Kovacic (Isco 78’), Casemiro, Kroos; Lucas Vázquez (Marco Asensio 84‘), Benzema (Morata 66’), Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Real Sociedad: Rulli; Zaldúa, Raúl Navas, Iñigo Martínez, Kévin Rodrigues; Zurutuza, Illarramendi, Canales (Granero 78’); Juanmi, Willian José (Xabi Prieto 57’), Oyarzabal (Carlos Vela 57’). 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 38. Kovacic. Picked up Ronaldo pass and ran to shoot across Rulli.
2-0. 51. Ronaldo. Collected Kovacic pass and lifted shot past keeper.
3-0. 82. Morata. Steered header down past Rulli from Lucas Vázquez cross.
Yellow cards: Iñigo Martínez 06, 74’, Kroos 39’, Kévin Rodrigues 71’, Lucas Vázquez 77’ / red cards: Iñigo Martínez 74’.
Leaders Real Madrid have pulled four points clear of their immediate followers with a game still in hand after a 3-0 victory over fifth placed Real Sociedad in a rainy last match on Sunday. Willian José went close a couple of times for the visitors early on, but with seven minutes to go to the break Ronaldo put Kovacic through to open the scoring. Soon after the restart the two combined again for Ronaldo to make it two, and a few minutes later substitute Morata had a headed goal ruled out for a marginal offside. The Basque side were left with ten men though when Iñigo Martínez was sent off for a second bookable offence, and with eight minutes to go Morata got on the end of a Lucas Vázquez cross on a rapid counter-attack to head in the third. Ronaldo had a strike disallowed after that for another close offside decision, but Zidane’s team already had the win they needed to reconcile with their fans after the midweek elimination from the Spanish cup.