Player Ratings: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad – 2021/22

Real Madrid come from a goal down to win over third-placed Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu and move eight points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Ancelotti’s men got off to a slow start. Dani Carvajal stood on David Silva’s foot, conceding a penalty after just 10 minutes from which Mikel Oyarzabal made no mistake.

Real Madrid started to click into gear after Oyarzabal’s goal and it was Eduardo Camavinga who equalised for the home side. The young Frenchman unleashed a rocket from outside the area to make it 1-1.

Minutes later, Modric made sure to top Camavinga’s brilliant goal with an absolutely stunning strike from range to give Real Madrid the lead heading into the break.

Madrid had the ball in the net again on 69 minutes but Rodrygo had been just offside when Benzema played him in. Madrid however were not to be denied a third goal. Sociedad substitute, Aritz Elustondo, brought down Vinicius just inside the area and Karim Benzema made no mistake from the spot.

With 12 minutes remaining, Dani Carvajal played the ball back to Marco Asensio, who had only just replaced Rodrygo, and the substitute slotted home. The win will undoubtedly provide Ancelotti’s men the world of confidence ahead of their Champions League second leg against PSG on Wednesday.

Player ratings:

Starting XI:

Thibaut Courtois: 7/10

Other than Oyarzabal’s penalty, Courtois had very little to do in goal.

Dani Carvajal: 6.5/10

A very sluggish start to the game saw the Spaniard give away a penalty inside the opening 10 minutes. Carvajal improved as the game went on and assisted Asensio for the fourth goal.

Eder Militao: 8/10

Solid as ever. Militao was not fazed by Sociedad’s bright start and his energy helped the team settle into the game.

David Alaba: 8/10

There was doubt over whether Alaba would be ready for tonight’s game but that was not at all obvious from his performance. The Austrian was crucial to Madrid’s build-up play from the back and his mazy runs made life very difficult for the visitors. Class performance.

Ferland Mendy: 7/10

Rodrygo Goes: 7/10

Karim Benzema: 8.5/10

Vinicius Jr: 7.5/10

Substitutions:

Marco Asensio: 7/10 – Came on to replace Rodrygo and scored almost immediately.

Dani Ceballos: N/A – Came on to replace Luka Modric with under 10 minutes remaining.

Marcelo: N/A – Came on to replace Vinicius with under 10 minutes remaining.

Lucas Vazquez: N/A – Came on to replace Carvajal late on.

Mariano Diaz: N/A – Came on to replace Benzema late on.