Brilliant Karim Benzema leads Read Madrid to victory over Moyes's Real Sociedad
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ByEurosport
Updated 31/01/2015 at 18:09 GMT
La Liga, Santiago Bernabeu: Real Madrid 4 (Rodriguez 3, Ramos 37, Benzema 52, 76) Real Sociedad 1 (A Elustundo 1)
Real Madrid's Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez (R) celebrates with Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos (2ndL) and teammates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Real Sociedad de Futbol at the Santiago Bernabeu (AFP)
Image credit: AFP
Two moments of goalscoring brilliance from Karim Benzema proved the real difference between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.
La Real dominated the match in the opening stages, and caught their hosts off guard in the very first minute as Aritz Elustundo met the first corner of the game with a firm header in the middle of the box to open the scoring.
But Madrid hit back almost immediately, with another header – from James Rodriguez, outjumping the three men around him to convert Marcelo’s beautiful ball from the left.
Marcelo’s creativity set up Madrid’s second on 37 minutes as well, as Benzema met his cross and had his shot parried by Geromino Rulli; but the young goalkeeper could do nothing about Sergio Ramos’s resounding rebound.
Three minutes later, Benzema sought out Rodriguez in the middle of the box, but the onrushing Gareth Bale nicked the ball from his team-mate’s toes and proceeded to smash his shot appallingly wide.
Benzema came into his own in the second half, with a powerful one-touch tap-in from Bale’s ball on 52 minutes, and then a beautifully exquisite curling shot 14 minutes from time, rippling into the top corner and putting Real Madrid out of sight.
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Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates his goal against Real Sociedad during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, January 31, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
1’ GOAL! And that's a goal from the corner! Great header in the middle of the box from Elustondo!
3’ GOAL! And one straight back from James Rodriguez, who's ecstatic. He's got three men around him, and that's another fabulous header, set up beautifully by Marcelo on the left.
25’ NO PENALTY! Is Gareth Bale appealing for a penalty? He and Xabi Prieto tangle legs but doesn't look too much like a foul.
37’ GOAL! Sergio Ramos picks up the rebound as Marcelo sets up Benzema, whose shot is parried by Rulli.
40’ WHAT IS GARETH BALE DOING? James Rodriguez is LIVID. It's three on one as Benzema sets up James in the centre of the box - and Bale nicks it off his toes and smacks it wide. Oh dear.
52’ GOAL! Well, Bale's learnt his lesson, he has the opportunity to shoot as he cuts in from the left, but he plays it back, and Benzema takes advantage to tap in.
76’ GOAL! And what a fabulous goal it is as well from Karim Benzema! So beautiful. He exchanges passes with Isco, and then strikes a gorgeous curling shot past Rulli's stretching left hand into the top corner.
KEY STATISTICS
Karim Benzema has now scored three in his last two matches. He hadn’t scored in his previous seven.
16 of Benzema’s 17 this season have been one-touch efforts.
Sergio Ramos has scored three league goals this season.
TALKING POINT
What was with Gareth Bale today? The Madristas were not happy with him, with some rather sceptical whistling from the crowd suggesting they had not approved of his over-confidence in front of goal.
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale reacts after a missed scoring opportunity against Real Sociedad during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, January 31, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Churlish not to give it to Karim Benzema, although honourable mention to Geronimo Rulli in the Real Sociedad goal.
RATINGS
Real Madrid: Casillas 7, Carvajal 7, Ramos 8, Varane 7, Marcelo 8, James 8, Illarramendi 7, Kroos 7, Isco 8, Benzema 9, Bale 6. Subs: Navas, Coentrao, Khedira 7, Chicharito 7, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese 7.
Real Sociedad: Rulli 9, Yuri 7, Inigo 7, Mikel 7, A Elustondo 7, G Elustondo 7, Granero 8, Prieto 8, Pardo 8, Canales 8, Vela 6. Subs: Zubikarai, Bergara 7, Finnbogason, Agirretxe 7, Castro, Zaldua, De la Bella 7.
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