Real Madrid 0-0 Real Sociedad: Los Blancos fall further behind

Real Madrid 0-0 Real Sociedad: Los Blancos fall further behind in the title race as stalemate leaves them five points behind Barcelona

• Real Madrid were the better team but failed to make the breakthrough
• The hosts had 20 shots on goal but none of them managed to find the net
• Madrid and Sociedad remain second and third in the table respectively  

Real Sociedad confirmed their status as the new third force in Spanish football by taking a point from the Santiago Bernabeu in a thrilling draw with Real Madrid.

Don’t be fooled by the 0-0, there are goalless draws in which neither team deserve a point, and then there are others in with both sides deserve three.

Nothing was held back as both teams strained every sinew to pick up the three points that would enable them to close the gap on Barcelona at the top, but neiher side managed it.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side dropped two points as they were held to a draw by Real Sociedad

Karim Benzema and co played well but didn’t manage to make the breakthrough 

Real Sociedad started boldly and Alexander Sorloth almost turned in Aihen Munoz’s cross. But the beast was soon stirring and Madrid were in the ascendancy before the break.

Their front three were unplayable at times with the Brazilians Rodrygo and Vinicius mesmerizing either side of Karim Benzema. Vincius had chances either side of half time – first after Brais Mendes had given the ball away and Benzema had teed-up him up only for Alex Remiro to save. Then at the restart Remiro saved again from Vincius after another combination with the Frenchman.

It wasn’t just Real Madrid’s front three. Behind them Fede Valverde looked back to his best after his post World Cup dip, and Dani Ceballos was inspired justifying selection ahead of Luka Modric.

Valverde set-up Rodrygo ten minutes into the second half but his shot was blocked for a corner. Eder Militao was involved in the build-up to the chance and it underlined how the threat to Real Sociedad was coming from all angles – Eduardo Camavinga was also flying forward at every opportunity from left-back.

Luka Modric looks dejected during the frustrating LaLiga clash in Madrid on Sunday

The visitors were hanging on admirably at the back and increasingly posing a threat at the other end with Thibaut Courtois having to get down well to block Take Kubo’s shot from close range through the legs of Antonio Rudiger. Kubo slid in on the keeper moments later and for his boot-to-face follow-through on the Belgian he was booked. There were games within the game itself and this epic battle was now where Real Sociedad wanted it.

Kubo was principal tormentor tricking his way past Camavinga from the byline and his crossing for Robert Navarro whose shot was saved. Having watched his opposite number keep the game at 0-0 Real Sociedad keeper Remiro then batted away Vinicius’ lob with a brilliant save, but this was turning into the Kubo show and first he popped up on the left wing to force another save from Courtois, and then at right back to rob Vinicius.

Real Sociedad had been forced to bring on kids in the second period with 19-year-old Pablo Marin and 22-year-old Jon Ander Olasagasti coming on.

Los Blancos now sit five points Barcelona, just past the midway point of the season 

Carlo Ancelotti was able to turn to Luka Modric and Marco Asensio as Real Madrid tried to get back on top.

The tension got to the usually calm Imanol Alguacil and when he grabbed the ball and kept it so as to prevent Camavinga taking a quick throw he was booked. Madrid often have six gears for these games – five for the ninety minutes and a sixth for added time and they were now threatened to find that top gear. Camavinga crossed from the byline but no Madrid attacker could get onto the centre.

Real Sociedad were also strong to the finish. There was another shot late on from marathon man Kubo and Courtois saved again to push the ball out for a 95th minute corner which came to nothing. And as the five minutes added on became six there was yet another corner for Alguacil’s team. Kubo took it, it went long and the whistle was blown on a titanic battle in which both sides done enough to win but after which, leaders Barcelona will feel like the only winners.

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