Real Madrid cruise past Real Sociedad after Barca and Atletico beaten

BeSoccer 3 years ago 8.4k |

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Vinicius Junior scored yet another goal as Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 0-2. AFP

Real Madrid stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points on Saturday with a slick 2-0 win over Real Sociedad but the victory was tarnished by an injury to Karim Benzema.

Madrid's eighth consecutive win proved even more valuable after both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona lost, with Atletico undone by Mallorca and Barca succumbing to the impressive Real Betis for their first defeat under Xavi Hernandez. Barcelona stay seventh, now a hefty 16 points behind Real Madrid, while Atletico drop to fourth, six points in front of Barca, but 10 points off the top. Both teams will now have to pick themselves up ahead of crunch Champions League group games in midweek.

Barca need to win away at Bayern Munich to guarantee their place in the last 16 and could be without Gavi after the midfielder was taken to hospital with a head injury. Atletico have to beat Porto in Portugal to even have a chance of going through. Madrid, meanwhile, face Inter Milan on Tuesday, in a decider for first place in Group D, and then Atletico Madrid next weekend, which makes Benzema's injury even more of a concern.

The 33-year-old was forced off in the first half at the Reale Arena with what appeared to be a problem around his left hamstring. Benzema had started 19 of Madrid's 20 games this season and all of the last five in 14 days. Yet Madrid marched on without their star striker to register another impressive win over high-flying Real Sociedad as Vinicius Junior continued his brilliant run by scoring the opener before Luka Jovic, Benzema's replacement, added a second.

Vinicius' 12th goal of the season came in the 47th minute as he weaved in from the left and played a clever reverse pass into Jovic, who held the ball up and turned it back to Vinicius, who drove in. Jovic has endured a torrid time since joining Madrid for 60 million euros in 2019 but he could be given a run now in Benzema's absence. After teeing up Vinicius, he stooped low to head in Casemiro's flick-on from a corner for his first goal of the season.

The last half an hour was a bit of a non-event as Real Sociedad were unable to trouble Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal in the second 45 while Ancelotti's side had just the one chance which saw Vinicius denied by goalkeeper Remiro after being played in by Eder Militao. The result was never in the doubt in the second half and Real Sociedad remain fifth.

Madrid already look uncatchable for Barcelona but losing to Betis means the Catalans are also losing touch with the top four.