Perfect Madrid come from behind to beat Real Sociedad
Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish Liga football match betweem Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 17, 2023. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
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Real Madrid
came from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 and climb back to the top of La Liga
on Sunday, maintaining their perfect start to the season.
After
Barcelona put five past Real Betis in a flashy display on Saturday the onus was
on Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid side to maintain their 100 percent record and they
did, against the tricky Basque visitors.
Propelled by
the electric Takefusa Kubo, Real Sociedad took an early lead through Ander
Barrenetxea, but Madrid hit back with goals from Fede Valverde and Joselu to
earn their fifth win from five games.
England
international Jude Bellingham was unable to continue his excellent goalscoring
form, after netting five goals in his first four Madrid matches, but remains
the division's top goalscorer.
Madrid start
their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at home against Union Berlin, and
despite losing Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema in the summer and star player
Vinicius Junior to injury, remain a force to be reckoned with.
"We
kept believing, we know that here at home the support we've recieved is
incredible," said left-back Fran Garcia, who set up both goals.
"I'm
happy to help the team, now we have to think about the next game which is
coming up very soon."
Garcia came
through the Real Madrid youth system, moving to another capital club in Rayo
Vallecano before Los Blancos brought him back this summer.
The Basque
visitors went ahead at the new-look Santiago Bernabeu after only five minutes,
when Kubo stroked a fine pass into Barrenetxea's path.
Kepa
Arrizabalaga kept out the first effort with a fine save but could not claw out
the second.
Kubo then
beat the goalkeeper with a brilliant strike, but the ball brushed the offside
Mikel Oyarzabal on its way in, so it was disallowed.
Joselu hit
the crossbar with the goal gaping and Alex Remiro denied Dani Carvajal's volley
from Bellingham's dipping pass as Madrid found their footing.
Valverde
slammed Real Madrid level less than a minute into the second half, lashing Fran
Garcia's cut-back in off the post from outside the area.
The
left-back created the second goal too, crossing for target man Joselu to nod
the hosts ahead at the back post.
The Spain
international, on loan from Espanyol, was immediately taken off for Eduardo
Camavinga, as Ancelotti sought more control of the game.
The Italian
got it too, with the visitors no longer finding spaces between Madrid lines, as
Rodrygo ploughed a lone furrow up front.
Bellingham
almost extended his hot streak in stoppage time but Remiro superbly saved the
diving header after Brahim Diaz found the England star arriving in the area.
"I
think we have to fix some things, because we let in an early goal, but this is
the Bernabeu and with our fans we turned it around," said Joselu.
"We're
doing a bit of everything, we're confident in ourselves, there's a lot of
quality in the squad and we came from behind again.
"I'm
happy, these are goals that get the team points, three points, I'm happy to
keep adding my grain of sand."
Madrid lead
Barcelona by two points, with both of Spain's big two sides unbeaten, although
the Catalans drew their opening game against Getafe.


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