REAL SOCIEDAD vs REAL MADRID: Los Blancos Defeated After 2 Goals Lead

Real Madrid are leaving the Basque Country with their tails between their legs after getting blitzed 4-2 by Real Sociedad on Sunday night at Anoeta. Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale scored early goals to put Los Blancos ahead 2-0, only for the home sides to respond with four unanswered scores in what was a back-and-forth encounter between the two sides.

With Ángel di María and Xabi Alonso both departing the Bernabéu during the midweek and Cristiano Ronaldo out injured, Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI took on a different shape with James, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco in the midfield and a back four of Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelona in front of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.


At the start Real were the hungrier of the two and their assertive mindset bore fruit with two goals inside the first 11 minutes. The first came on what can basically now be called the ‘Sergio Ramos Special’ as a Kroos corner kick from the left was smacked into the back of the net by Ramos who came flying into the area and headed in to put Real up 1-0.

Six minutes later the second Real goal started from the right as Modric played across to Bale and the Welshman out-muscled two Real Sociedad defenders to then slot a shot past Eñaut Zubikarai. Suddenly, it was 2-0 to the visitors and all Anoeta could do was sit in stunned silence.

But Real Sociedad finally started to find their footing and had a decent shout for a penalty in the 27th minute when a last-gasp Ramos block of an Esteban Granero shot -- that looked destined for goal – deflected up in the air and was about to be headed by David Zurutuza only for Carvajal to clatter into the Basque winger. The home fans howled for a penalty but there was no whistle from the referee.

The non-call only seemed to galvanize Real Sociedad and they would halve the margin in the 36th minute as a corner kick was flicked on by Xabi Prieto and it landed right at the feet of Iñigo Martínez who had an easy tap-in at the far post to make it 2-1. Zurutuza would then exact revenge by tallying the equalizer four minutes before the break as Alberto de la Bella’s cross found the head of the onrushing Zurutuza who smashed into Marcelo a split-second after thumping in his effort.

Real Sociedad’s confidence only grew as the match continued into the second half as Real’s midfield and defense looked more and more exposed as the half wore on. The hosts would score the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute on a superb one-two combination between Prieto and Sergio Canales which set up Prieto’s cross to Zuruzuta who slammed in his second goal of the evening to put the home side up 3-2.

From being down 2-0 to doubling up Los Blancos -- that’s how it played out in the 76th minute when a Real Sociedad corner kick bounced to Carlos Vela who turned and fired into the roof of the net. The Real defenders were incredulous, as they claimed the Mexican had used his arm to stop and control the ball, but the goal stood and incredibly, Real Sociedad led 4-2.

Ancelotti’s men never recovered. Sami Khedira had a header fly just over the crossbar in the 86th minute and Benzema and James each came close with shots in the waning minutes, but in the end, it proved futile as Real now embark on a fall season full of questions after a turbulent week of player turnover.