Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 on Saturday to pull eight points clear at the top of La Liga in preparation for Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 on Saturday to move eight points clear of Real Sociedad at the top of La Liga. Two stunning long-range efforts from Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric turned the game on its head at the Santiago Bernabeu, before a Karim Benzema penalty and a tap-in for Marco Asensio capped an emphatic triumph. Camavinga's goal, his second for Madrid, came at a good time, since the 19-year-old could be forced to start against PSG on Wednesday, with Toni Kroos out with a hamstring strain.
"Camavinga is certainly a possibility," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated.
If Madrid is to advance to the quarter-finals, they must overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris.
With the stadium mostly empty at the end of the game, Madrid's players returned to the pitch to applaud the ultras behind the goal.
"The players came up with the concept of thanking the fans," Ancelotti stated. "They are more confident in what we can do on Wednesday after this game."
Everything appears to be easier for the 36-year-old Modric, whose own wonder-goal was the pinnacle of another mesmerizing game that earned him a standing ovation from the home crowd in the second half.
In midweek, Madrid's back four will be put to the test by Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, but this was a particularly encouraging performance from Ancelotti's offense, which was far more dynamic after struggling for goals in previous weeks.
After recuperating from his own hamstring injury last month, Benzema seems sharp once more. Benzema had three goals in his last three games, two of which were disallowed until he finally scored from the penalty spot against La Real.
After second-placed Sevilla was held to a goalless draw by Alaves on Friday night, Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga was extended.
Real Sociedad could have moved up to third place with a win, but they remain sixth, with Europa League qualification now appearing more likely than Champions League qualification.
Real Madrid got off to a sloppy start and paid the price when David Silva's touch and shift were too swift for Dani Carvajal, who was caught by the midfielder's following right foot.
Impressive Modric
Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty had too much power and whip, and the ball nestled into the bottom right-hand corner. Thibaut Courtois dived the right way.
Madrid didn't have a shot on goal until the 29th minute, and the fans was becoming impatient when Camavinga's rocket broke the tension. Modric sent the ball to the midfielder, who controlled it and fired a 30-yard shot that went straight, hard, and into the net.
Before halftime, the floodgates opened, with Madrid scoring twice more. After Camavinga robbed Asier Illarramendi, the first goal was ruled out for offside because Benzema was a fraction too quick to latch onto Modric's pass.
The second, however, was unstoppable, with Modric collecting on the edge of the box and Silva jogging out to meet him after a fast corner. Modric moved Silva left, right, and left again, creating enough space for him to explode with his left foot, sending the ball soaring into the net.
In the second half, the Madrid storm subsided slightly, but not much. For the first 20 minutes, Real Sociedad struggled to get out of their own half, with Benzema and Rodrygo both coming close.
Benzema added a third, but Rodrygo's right foot was offside in the build-up, and Vinicius Junior won a penalty with 16 minutes remaining after a meandering run down the left.
Vinicius snuck by Igor Zubeldia, stayed on his feet, and then defeated Aritz Elustondo by tripping over the defender's planted left leg, counting on VAR to identify that he was inside the area. Benzema skipped up to the penalty spot and slammed the ball home.
Three minutes later, Asensio made it four, completing Carvajal's cut-back to seal the victory.
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