- Arda Guler scores winner for Real Madrid in victory over Real Soceidad
- Carlo Ancelotti’s men have a fourteen-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the table
- ‘He reaches De Bruyne’s level!’ Arsenal maestro Martin Odegaard SHOULD be in the running for Player of the Year – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
Real Madrid’s 19-year-old Turkish international Arda Guler scored the only goal of the match as Carlo Ancelotti’s team remained 14 points clear at the top of La Liga.
It was his first start of the season and he made the difference as Madrid extended their unbeaten run in La Liga to 25 games.
They asked the Spanish league to let them play on Friday so they could have an extra day to prepare for next week’s Champions League semi-final. They took full advantage of that, despite fielding a second string XI.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti made nine changes from the Clasico-winning team, with only Luka Modric and Nacho retaining their places.
Jude Bellingham was not scheduled to travel but was benched after Rodrygo withdrew late with an upset stomach.
Arda Guler celebrates scoring the winner for Real Madrid as they beat Real Sociedad
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are now 14 points clear at the top of the La Liga table
The victory means Madrid are now unbeaten in 25 games this season and moving closer to the title
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The biggest decision was to give Eder Militao his first start since the opening day of the season, when he tore his ACL. He could still be in the Champions League semi-finals alongside Antonio Rudiger, who was rested for this match along with Vinicius.
Real Sociedad had to go for the win as pressure mounted on the Basque side to take the points and secure a place in next season’s Europa League. But they missed their earlier chances when former Real Madrid striker Take Kubo failed to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga at his near post. Kepa started his first match since January and was impressed when tested.
Madrid punished Real Sociedad’s failure to capitalize on their previous dominance when Guler put them ahead after 29 minutes. The teenager was making his first league start and he buried Dani Cavraval’s brilliant cross first time to make it 1-0 – his second of the season.
Real Socidad thought they had leveled, but Kubo’s goal was disallowed because Ander Barrenetxea had fouled Aurelien Tchouameni in the build-up. La Real put pressure effectively and forced mistakes.
Guler started the second half with the same flair and verve as he had shown in the first half, but he walked a fine line with the referee.
Jude Bellingham was left on the bench with half an eye on next week’s Champions League semi-final
He had received a warning in the first half and with a hand in Robin Le Normand’s face and kicking the ball away he risked a second yellow card. Ancelotti took him off with twenty minutes to go to avoid a dismissal.
Dani Ceballos, who also got a rare start, was also taken off the field as Ancelotti brought on two of his luxury substitutes Fede Valverde and Vinicius.
Mikel Oyarzabal had the ball in the net after 72 minutes, but he was fractionally offside and so Madrid remained ahead.
Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil threw Sheraldo Becker onto the pitch in the final quarter of an hour and he almost scored the equalizer with a curling shot from distance that went just over the crossbar.
But Madrid galloped across the line without having to use Bellingham – and can now prepare for Bayern Munich on Tuesday.