That man Rulli is sterling once more, racing off his line to slide the ball off the toes of Chicharito well outside his box. Not long after the referee decides that enough is enough and ends the game.
90'
The Bernabeu faithful haven't really taken to Bale in this game after his profligacy and general inability to live up to the standards of the absent Ronaldo. He's been greeted with a mixed reception in his most recent moments on the ball.
89'
Yuri goes in late on Khedira, and the pair have some words for each other. The referee ends the argument with a booking for the Sociedad left-back.
88'
S. Khedira gets yellow.
Yuri gets yellow.
87'
RULLI COMES UP HUGE AGAIN! Carvajal rampages down the flank to square to Chicharito for what was surely a tap in, but the keeper shows great reading of the game again to put him off his shot!
84'
The game has opened up in the last few minutes as Sociedad try to restore some respectability to the scoreline, but in turn, they're leaving all sorts of space for Madrid to exploit on the break.
82'
COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE! Bale races forward down the centre and is clear of the defence, but Rulli covers his goal excellently and blocks the Welshman's finish! Great save, but he should have had no chance against a player of Bales quality!
81'
S. Khedira enters the game and replaces T. Kroos.
J. Hernández enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
80'
In fact, that was the last action for Benzema and what a perfect time for him to depart, with the scent of that goal still fresh in the air! The fans give him a rich round of applause as he jogs off for Hernandez. Kroos is also replaced by Sami Khedira.
78'
Well that will surely be that. Sociedad have been positive in the last 10 minutes or so, but there's no recovering from that. A goal fit to crown any game, and probably the best that Benzema has ever scored.
Minute
Description
76'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Isco.
I'M STUNNED! THAT WAS A WORLD-CLASS HIT TO SEND MADRID 4-1 UP! Benzema starts and finishes a give-and-go with Isco. 'Finishes' is doing him a gross disservice, as the Frenchman lashes a shot from the corner of the box with such ferocity that it bends high into the opposite side!
74'
Jesé enters the game and replaces J. Rodríguez.
James started this game with a literal bang, heading in a third-minute leveler. However, he wasn't quite able to kick on from those heights, and was on the periphery of the game for most of the second half. On comes Jese in his place.
72'
Sociedad are slowly beginning to get a little more ambitious in the final third, bur are still lacking the final ball to create shooting opportunities. Cautiously positive from them, but time is starting to become a factor.
70'
Marcelo gets yellow.
Marcelo pulls off a kung-fu challenge that Bruce Lee would have been proud of. No surprise to see him booked, and he's lucky that Agirretxe wasn't fully facing him!
68'
A glimpse of a chance for the Erreala, as Prieto angles himself to get on the end of Pardo's corner, but he can't keep his effort down. A goal for Sociedad will really make things interesting.
66'
Not a lot happening out on the pitch. Madrid seem to have decided that they've done enough to claim all three points, and have taken their foot decidedly off the gas pedal.
64'
The goalscorer Aritz Elustondo has been sacrificed for a midfielder in Markel Bergara, which restores Sociedad to a back four. The visitors still look short-handed up top though.
63'
62'
Bergara enters the game and replaces Elustondo.
The tempo has gone out of the game in recent minutes as Madrid allow Sociedad to have a period on the ball. As good as the hosts have been, one goal from the visitors and things are on the edge all over again.
60'
Pardo has an attempt on goal blocked, in what is the first moment of positivity for Sociedad in this half. They've been absolutely dominated since Aritz Elustondo's early opener.
58'
Bale's low centre across the face of goal takes a crucial touch off Inigo, which in turn takes it off the slide of Benzema at the back post. Madrid would have been 4-1 up had that cross been clean.
56'
CLOSE SHAVE! Benzema tees up Marcelo in the area, but the Brazilian can't caress his finish into the back of the net, thanks to a save from Rulli! Bale attempts to loop a header home from the rebound, but an acrobatic clearance thwarts Madrid again!
54'
PENALTY CLAIM! Bale, for the second time in as many minutes, tries to latch onto a one-two from Benzema, but he gets tangled up with Gonzalez and goes down in a heap. The referee had a great view of that though, and does not blow his whistle.
52'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by G. Bale.
BENZEMA MAKES IT THREE! The French striker is the point man in a one-two with Bale, and smartly positions himself to prod the ex-Spurs man's return pass into the back of the net!
50'
Madrid start the second half in complete control, and Isco should have done better when collecting a pass from Benzema in a good position. The midfielder skies his effort high over the bar.
48'
One change at the interval, and it's a surprising one. Canales was virtually anonymous outside of the opening five minutes, but his withdrawal for a defender in Alberto De la Bella leaves Sociedad alarmingly short up front in a game that they're chasing. The substitute slots into the defensive line to make a back five.
46'
De la Bella enters the game and replaces Sergio Canales.
The teams are out and we're off again.
45' +2
Sociedad orchestrate a belated period of possession in injury time, but the visitors are completely out of ideas. They're missing the running of Vela up top, with Agirretxe marked out of the first half.
45'
Bale's rotten luck continues with an effort that would have been admirable were it a goal kick. The Welshman had a huge chance today to take up the mantle with Ronaldo missing, but he seems too eager to live up to such a prediction. He's snatched at the chances that have fallen his way.
43'
Pardo can't help but foul Benzema right outside the box, with the striker set to attack the box at pace. Now then, this is a magnificent free-kick chance and with Ronaldo out of commission, there's a few men licking their chops at this.
41'
Make no mistake, that was an inconceivable miss by Bale. Very rarely do you get a counter with THREE players clear of the defensive line. Madrid have piled on the chances in this half but are only one goal up.
39'
BALE HAS JUST MISSED A SITTER! A torrential counter-attack sees Benzema race down the left with an embarrassment of riches in support in James and Bale. There's only Rulli to beat, and the Frenchman squares to the Colombian for what looks like a tap in. However, the Welsh forward strangely tries to take the finish on himself, and misses the target!
37'
Sergio Ramos has scored a goal for Real Madrid!
LOS BLANCOS STORM IN FRONT! Marcelo is wrecking Sociedad from the flanks, with another outstanding cross finding Benzema at the far post. The former Lyon man's finish is saved, but there's no stopping Ramos from the close-range rebound!
36'
Wow, what a pass that was from Illarramendi! The midfielder launches a godly pass from the halfway line that lands perfectly on the boot of Benzema inside the area. However, Inigo covers him quickly.
35'
Sociedad have defended really well against the pressure, with Rulli showing great authority and command of both his area and the back four. However, the Erreala haven't been able to find the right out-ball to set up danger on the counter attack.
33'
Isco shows off some trademark velvet feet down the left channel, which frees him for the space he needs to hang a looper towards the far post. However, Rulli can claim via a chested knock down from a defender.
32'
On the very next play, Illarramendi is pulled up for the first booking of the game, after going in late on Pardo. Not a happy few minutes for him, and certainly not the best way for him to fight for his future at the Bernabeu.
31'
Illarramendi gets yellow.
Benzema is hounded by a trident of defenders, and shows superlative close control to lay the ball off into the only gap he could find for Bale. The Welsh slices one immediately, but it's well wide of the target.
30'
MORE CHANCES FOR MADRID! James powers one on goal from inside the area, but it's right at Rulli, who still can't hold onto that stinger! Real reset from the right flank, and Benzema plants a header just over!
28'
Illarramendi's suspect pass is swiped by Pardo, and the midfielder is lucky that his former club are outnumbered in the final third. Uncharacteristically sloppy from the normally unflappable Illarra.
26'
James feeds Bale down the left side of the area with a nifty pass, but Prieto appears to have it covered. However, the Sociedad No. 10 can't shake off his natural inclination to play his way out of trouble and nearly has his pocket picked by the Welshman. They both tangle for the ball and go down in a heap, but the referee doesn't award a decision either way.
24'
Inigo has to race across to the right side to snuff out a run and shot from Bale. From the resulting corner, Sociedad wobble again, but ultimately their numbers win out against the Welshman's attempted acrobatic finish from an angle.
22'
Sociedad are defending in numbers against this period of Madrid pressure. They're forming a back five, with one of Gorka Elustondo and Ruben Pardo dropping into the backline depending on which side the attack is coming from.
20'
RULLI HAS TO MAKE HIMSELF BIG! Marcelo, for the second time in this game, releases a tremendous pass into the area that frees Benzema. The French striker attempts a side-footed finish, but simply cannot beat the keeper, who spread himself excellently!
18'
The match has developed into an altogether different affair from the open exchanges. It's much tighter, but Sociedad are starting to come out of their shell again with a few ambitious through balls from the flanks to central areas.
17'
Agirretxe enters the game and replaces C. Vela.
16'
Vela is back on the pitch for only a beat, and promptly goes down, signalling for a substitution. A massive blow for the Mexican and for the Erreala. On comes Agirretxe, a different type of player, more of a target man who is a little dependent on service to score.
14'
Sociedad have been under incessant pressure since conceding the leveler, and are unable to take any attacking initiative of their own. More bad news for them, as Vela is wincing in pain on the touchline, attended to by a pair of physios. It looks like his knee and Moyes gets a few of his subs warming up just in case.
12'
Varane attacks a corner inside the area with Bale, and the Frenchman beats his man, but can't keep his header down. You get the feeling that the scoring in this game is far from done.
11'
Madrid are channeling a lot of attacks through a gap between Aritz Elustondo and Gonzalez on the right side of Sociedad's defence. Isco plays a splitting ball for Benzema in that very position, but Rulli takes command of his area once again.
9'
BOX-TO-BOX ACTION! Sociedad are getting a few worryingly promising gaps near the top of the Madrid box. Gorka Elustondo lets fly from just outside the D, but it's a daisy cutter once again from the visitors that Casillas can swallow.
7'
James is hungry for more, and he's nearly put into a shooting position by a great searching ball from Illarramendi. However, Rulli anticipates the danger and races off his line to meet the Colombian.
5'
A HAIR AWAY FROM 2-1! Ganero takes aim from the edge of the area, but his shot is so weak that it ends up being a perfect through pass for Canales. The midfielder, against his former club, sticks his left peg out but misses the far post by not more than an inch or two!
3'
J. Rodríguez has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marcelo.
REAL MADRID ARE LEVEL! A scintillating start parried by the perfect response! Marcelo hangs a wonderful ball into the area for James, who does almost as well to guide a thumping header high into the net!
1'
Elustondo has scored a goal for Real Sociedad! Assist by Rubén Pardo.
Here we go!
OPENING GOAL! SOCIEDAD STUNNER! A corner just sails over the head of Ramos' leap, and that allows Aritz Elustondo to convert around the back post! Stuff of dreams for Moyes!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Liga clash between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Los Blancos can extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, at least temporarily, while the Basque outfit are looking to edge closer to the European places. I'm Keeghann Sinanan, your guide for all the action.
Carlo Ancelotti will have to do without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Ballon d'Or winner suspended for two games after striking Edimar with his hands and feet during Madrid's last league outing against Cordoba. Incidentally, the Portuguese was also missing from the last meeting between these two - a 4-2 win for the Basques at the Anoeta back in August.
Sociedad have only taken full points from five league games this season, but they can still count Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico amongst their scalps. The ability of this side isn't in question, but their consistency definitely is. Currently in 11th place, the Erreala come into this game having only won one of their last five in all competitions.
Sociedad are close to completing the double against Madrid, a feat they also managed back in 2004 against the Galactico-era Merengues. The capital outfit have won nine of the last 11 meetings between the two sides, but Erreala manager David Moyes has a staunch recent record against Ancelotti. The Scot's Everton beat the Italian's Chelsea in both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 Premier League campaigns, and also sent the Blues crashing out of the FA Cup in the latter season.
Moyes makes only one change from his side's last outing, a 1-0 win against Eibar in the league. Gorka Elustondo is recalled at the expense of Imanol Agirretxe, meaning that the Mexican Carlos Vela is the man trusted to lead the line for the visitors tonight.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; James, Benzema, Bale.
Isco will replace the suspended Ronaldo, but the former Malaga man will play in the midfield three alongside Toni Kroos and Asier Illarramendi, who comes in for Sami Khedira. James Rodriguez will therefore take the Portuguese's place in the front three, linking up with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
That will do it for now, with the referee signaling for the break. A suffocating attacking display from los Blancos, and Ancelotti's only complaint should be that his side are not out of sight. Aritz Elustondo delivered the briefest of shocks with a first-minute opener, but James responded on the very next play to draw Madrid level. From there, the hosts hammered away until Ramos converted a rebound to put them in front. It's 2-1 at the interval. Stay tuned for the restart in just a bit.
Real Madrid wrap up their 17th win of the season and open up a four-point provisional lead at the top of the Liga table. Poor Sociedad never had a chance and have Rulli to thank for not ending the game on the wrong side of a cricket score. They stay in mid table.
That's all from me. I've been Keeghann Sinanan and it's been a pleasure!
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