Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad result: Benzema and Modric shine as hosts extend lead in title race

Graham Ruthven

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Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad result: Benzema and Modric shine as hosts extend lead in title race image

Real Madrid fought back from behind to claim a comprehensive 4-1 win over Real Sociedad and extend their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points.

Sevilla's draw against Alaves on Friday presented Carlo Ancelotti's team with the opportunity to take another step towards the Spanish title and they took their chance.

Mikel Oyarzabal gave the visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu the lead after just 10 minutes, converting from the penalty spot after David Silva was fouled inside the area by Eder Militao.

At this point, Real Sociedad looked to be in a goos position, but two stunning strikes by Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric at the end of the first half gave Real Madrid a 2-1 lead.

Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio added their name to the score sheet in the second period as Los Blancos prepared for next week's Champions League last 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain with an emphatic victory.

Ancelotti's side now hold an eight-point lead over second-place Sevilla, and an 18-point lead over Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, at the top of the La Liga table.

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Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad final score

  1H 2H Final
Real Madrid 2 4 4
Real Sociedad 1 1 1

Goals: Oyarzabal (pen) 10', Camavinga 40' (Modric), Modric 44' (Benzema), Benzema (pen) 76', Asensio 79' (Carvajal)

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad lineups

Real Madrid - Courtois; Mendy, Alaba, Militao, Carvajal; Casemiro, Camavinga, Modric; Vinicius, Benzema, Rodryo. Subs - Asensio, Ceballos, Marcelo, Mariano, Vazquez, Hazard, Jovic, Isco, Nacho, Vallejo, Lunin, Bale.

Real Sociedad - Remiro; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Pacheco, Zubeldia; Illarramendi, Merino, Oyarzabal, Zaldua; Isak, Silva. Subs - Zubimendi, Elustondo, Sorloth, Djouahra, Rafinha, Ryan, Guridi, Guevara, Portu, Lobete, Sola, Martin.

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad as-it-happened

(All times Eastern)

FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad: The final whistle blows and Real Madrid can reflect on an excellent performance on the whole. Real Sociedad opened the scoring early on, but the dynamic of the contest changed when Camavinga and Modric scored two stunners within four minutes.

90+1 mins: There will be four minutes of stoppage time played at the end of the match.

90 mins: Is there a better all-round centre forward in European football right now?

89 mins: Sorloth had the ball in the Real Madrid box, but he had no support at all. Real Sociedad have all but given up on this match. Their second half performance has been poor.

88 mins: Imanol will surely be disappointed that his team have allowed this match to get away from them. Real Sociedad took the lead and even looked to be in a good position at 2-1 down at half-time, but Real Madrid have dominated them in the second period.

84 mins: Mariano and Vazquez ON, Benzema and Carvajal ON - Two more changes are made by Ancelotti as he looks ahead to that Champions League second leg against PSG.

82 mins: Ceballos and Marcelo ON, Modric and Vinicius OFF - The home fans give Modric a standing ovation. What a performance by a brilliant player.

79 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad (Asensio 79') - The points are now in the bag for Real Madrid! Carvajal burst to the byline, had the presence of mind to wait for support, cut it back for Asensio who guided a finish into the back of the empty net.

78 mins: Asensio ON, Rodrygo OFF - Ancelotti makes his first change of the match and Asensio will get just over 10 minutes of game time.

76 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad (Benzema 76') - That's easy for Benzema who steps up and sends Remiro the wrong way from the penalty spot. Is that game over? It's a long way back for Real Sociedad from this point.

75 mins: PENALTY KICK! The officials took a look at the foul by Elustondo on Vinicius and have decided that it took place inside the area. Benzema will have the chance to score Real Madrid's third from the spot!

73 mins: Just outside the box! Elustondo fouls Vinicius right on the edge of the box. An inch or two more and that would have been a penalty to Real Madrid. The VAR is going to take a look at this.

70 mins: DISALLOWED! The officials have used VAR to spot an offside by Rodrygo in the build-up to the goal and it's chalked off. It remains 2-1 to Real Madrid.

69 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad (Benzema 69') - It's a third goal for Real Madrid! Vinicius flicked a ball into the path of Benzema inside the box and the Frenchman was on hand to fire high into the roof of the Real Sociedad net. Will it stand, though? Was Rodrygo offside?

66 mins: Will we see any changes from Ancelotti in the next 10 minutes or so? Keep in mind Real Madrid have the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain next week. They'll want to be fresh for that!

61 mins: BENZEMA... saved! Wonderful play by the Real Madrid striker who controls a ball inside the box, feigns a back-heel flick to create the space and then gets the shot away. Remiro gets a hand to it, though. Good save.

60 mins: Modric just continues to get better and better...

58 mins: BOOKING! The first yellow card of the match is shown to Zaldua for a foul on Casemiro.

55 mins: Remiro saves! Casemiro cracks in a powerful freekick from distance and the Real Sociedad goalkeeper has to produce a strong save to prevent the Brazilian from finding the back of the net!

53 mins: Real Sociedad nearly get caught out again! Certainly not for the first time in the match, the away team lose the ball inside their own half. However, Benzema could only shoot wide of the target. There was a deflection.

51 mins: Rodrygo is enjoying a good game for Real Madrid. The Brazilian is dribbling past opponents at will and is also doing a good job of pressing high on La Real when they have the ball and forcing mistakes.

47 mins: What will the game plan be from Real Sociedad in this second period? They played very well for much of the first half, but fell victim to two pieces of brilliance by Camavinga and Modric. How will they respond?

46 mins: Rafinha and Djouhara ON, Silva and Pacheco OFF - Imanol makes two changes for the start of the second half. It's somewhat surprising that Silva has been withdrawn.

45 mins: The second half is under way! Real Madrid have a 2-1 advantage over Real Sociedad after 45 minutes.

HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad - The end to that half was ridiculous. Real Sociedad looked to be fairly comfortable in the match. Then Camavinga and Modric produced two moments of magic to turn the contest on its head. The hosts have the lead at the break.

44 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad (Modric 44') - Another INCREDIBLE goal! That might be even better than the strike by Camavinga. Modric shifted the ball on to his left foot and lashed home a shot from 25 yards out! Two stunning strikes!

43 mins: Rodrygo is denied at the near post after good work by Benzema on the right wing. Real Madrid are pressing hard for a second goal before the half time break!

42 mins: DISALLOWED! Benzema has the ball in the back of the net after Real Madrid won the ball high up the pitch, but the French striker was just offside and his celebrations are cut short.

40 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad (Camavinga 40') - Goodness me! What a sensational strike from Camavinga! With nothing going on in front of the French midfielder, he takes aim from 25 yards out and finds the corner of the net! Big goal!

37 mins: Vinicius is doing his best to bring some energy and urgency to the Real Madrid attack. For the first time in the match, he beats his man and bursts to the byline, but his cut-back is easily cleared by the Real Sociedad defence.

36 mins: Oyarzabal's penalty kick was a very good one. Courtois is a penalty specialist and wasn't far away from getting a hand to it!

34 mins: Real Madrid are now doing more to press high on Real Sociedad and force them into mistakes. The hosts have been too passive in the first half of this match. This is now more proactive. 

29 mins: Alaba lines up the freekick on the edge of the box, but his effort clips the top of the Real Sociedad wall and the away team survive. That's Real Madrid's first effort on goal and it took them nearly half-an-hour to produce it!

27 mins: Pacheco gives up the ball inside his own penalty box, but Carvajal couldn't find anyone in a white shirt in the middle. La Real get away with one!

25 mins: Silva picks out Oyarzabal with an excellent pass from deep. He is only able to win a corner kick which comes to nothing, but that passage of play demonstrates the problem Real Madrid have given themselves here. They are open to the counter!

22 mins: Carvajal has looked vulnerable in the early stages of the match...

20 mins: Casemiro takes aim, but that was never going to find the back of the net. Real Madrid are already running out of ideas. This isn't the start Ancelotti would have wanted. Imanol will be the happier of the two teams after the opening 20 minutes.

15 mins: That Real Sociedad is bad news for Real Madrid. They have struggled at times this season to break through teams employing a low defensive block and now La Real have something to protect!

10 mins: GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Real Sociedad (Oyarzabal pen 10') - That's an excellent penalty kick by Oyarzabal who arrows a strike into the bottom corner and the away side have the early advantage at the Santiago Bernabeu. That should spice things up!

9 mins: PENALTY KICK! Carvajal is penalised for a foul on Silva inside the box and Real Sociedad will have the opportunity to open the scoring from the spot!

7 mins: Oyarzabal has taken a knock. The Spanish international will surely be fine to continue, but Militao stepped on his foot as the pair challenged for the ball.

5 mins: There was a display in support of those facing the horrors of the invasion of Ukraine before kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu...

3 mins: Real Madrid have started the match on the front foot. They will look to dictate things on the ball with Real Sociedad content with sitting deep and absorbing pressure. The pattern has already been established.

KICK-OFF: The match is under way! Real Madrid kick off and are in their classic all-white kit. Real Sociedad are in a burgundy away kit.

2.55pm: Not long until kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu. This could be a crucial match for each of these two teams. Real Madrid need points in the title race and Real Sociedad need points in the race to finish in the top four.

2.45pm: Real Madrid have the second leg of their Champions League last 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Will that be on their mind in this match?

2.40pm: There's no Kroos and no Valverde for Real Madrid and that means Camavinga has been given a chance to prove himself in central midfield. How will Ancelotti use the young Frenchman? He is most effective when he is allowed to attack opponents!

2.30pm: The Santiago Bernabeu is still a construction site as redevelopment work continues. The dressing room still looks decent, though...

2.10pm: Real Sociedad come into this match having responded to their Europa League exit at the hands of RB Leipzig with a league win over Osasuna. Any positive result against Real Madrid would boost their hopes of finishing in the top four in the La Liga table.

2.00pm: Here's how Real Sociedad line up in the Spanish capital...

1.50pm: Camavinga starts for Real Madrid in the centre of midfield with Kroos missing through injury...

1:45 pm: Spanish outlet AS is labeling this match as a "Golden Opportunity" to put one hand on the La Liga trophy if they can survive the test from 6th place Sociedad.

1.30pm: Good afternoon and welcome to Sporting News' live commentary of the La Liga fixture between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Can Zinedine Zidane's team take another step towards the Spanish title with a positive result?

Graham Ruthven