Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad 4-1: La Liga – as it happened

The live coverage of Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad has now ended.

Los Blancos moved to the top of the table with a 4-1 win, thanks to a double from Vinicius Jnr from the spot as well as goals from Gonzalo Garcia and Fede Valverde.

Thanks for following along tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage from Santiago Bernabeu.

With Real Madrid now sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, rivals Barcelona will be looking to regain the top spot on Monday night.

It won’t be easy, though. Hansi Flick’s men face a Catalan Derby against local rivals Girona, who sit four points above the drop zone and are battling to avoid relegation.

Real Madrid’s fine La Liga form continued this morning as they defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 to move two points clear at the top of the table.

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With the second leg of their Copa Del Rey semifinal against Athletic Club not scheduled until early March, Real Sociedad now have two winnable fixtures in La Liga on the horizon.

The first sees them return to Anoeta, where they face bottom-side Real Oviedo at home, before they then travel to the Balearic Islands to face another relegation-threatened side in Mallorca.

This 4-1 win over Real Sociedad sets Real Madrid up perfectly ahead of Tuesday’s huge clash against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos were beaten 4-2 by the Portuguese giants last month, in a game where goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an incredible last-gasp goal to help his side qualify for the knockout rounds.

The two sides were then immediately pitted against one another in the playoffs to determine who goes through to the last 16 of the tournament, and the Spaniards will be out for revenge in the first leg against their old boss, Jose Mourinho.

Pellegrino Matarazzo has suffered his first defeat since taking charge of Real Sociedad.

The American took charge in late December and subsequently oversaw a nine-game unbeaten streak across both La Liga and the Copa Del Rey before defeat here tonight, but they remain eighth in the table.

Furthermore, La Real also came into this clash off the back of a midweek Basque Derby against rivals Athletic Club in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey semifinal, which they won 1-0.

While the adoring crowd would love to have seen Kylian Mbappe on the field tonight, the fact that he wasn’t needed is no doubt a huge positive for coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

Real Madrid face an away trip to Benfica in midweek for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff, and Mbappe’s rest here tonight will no doubt mean he’s fit and firing ahead of that game.

Two penalties from Vinicius Jr, coupled with strikes from Gonzalo Garcia and Fede Valverde, secured a comfortable and comprehensive victory for Real Madrid over Real Sociedad here tonight.

Mikel Oyarzabal levelled things up for La Real in the 21st minute, but in truth, that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Full time: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Real Madrid move two points clear at the top of La Liga after defeating Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona have the chance to retake the top spot when they face Girona on Monday evening.

Full time: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Real Madrid have the ball in the back of the net as Vinicius heads home from a free kick, but the flag is up for offside.

However, a VAR check is under way.

90 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Carreras finds Guler with a 60-yard cross-field pass, and the playmaker is in on goal, but he scuffs his shot wide of the far post.

The assistant ultimately raises his flag for offside.

86 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Oskarsson has the ball in the back of the Real Madrid net, but the assistant’s flag is raised and rightly so.

Oskarsson didn’t time his run, and he’s clearly offside.

84 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Wow, Brahim really hit the gas there! Surging away from his marker, and with the ball at his feet, the sub was destined for a shot at goal, but instead opted to cut the ball back to his teammate, which was intercepted.

82 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Another change for Real Madrid as young midfielder Jorge Cestero is on in place of Tchouameni.

The 19-year-old had only played ONE minute of La Liga football before tonight’s game.

79 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad work the ball out to their left, and when Guedes cut inside onto his right foot, it looked as though his shot would be heading towards goal, but there was Carvajal to pull off an excellent block and thwart the move.

78 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Madrid are enjoying themselves here. Huijsen, Ceballos and Brahim all exchange quick passes, and the ball is soon at the feet of Vinicius inside the Real Sociedad box. However, the defender recovers well, and the ball is cleared.

74 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Guler collects the ball on the edge of the Sociedad box but blasts his effort over the bar, and the substitutions can now take place.

Brahim is on for Valverde, and Ceballos takes Camavinga’s place in midfield.

Marin is off for Real Sociedad, replaced by Diaz.

71 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Real Madrid go close as Garcia skips past his man and races towards goal. However, while his shot beat Remiro in the Real Sociedad goal, the effort was easily cleared off the line, and it’s another chance that goes begging.

69 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Guedes whips a good ball into the box, and Gorrotxategi’s header is deflected out for a corner.

Sociedad get the ball back in play quickly and threaten with another ball into the box, but it’s dealt with by the Real Madrid defence.

68 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad

Some 74,176 fans are in the stadium tonight, and one of those is Kylian Mbappe on the Real Madrid bench.

The World Cup winner is all smiles on the big screen as his side are dominating the game here. Would be surprised if he’s risked tonight as he manages a knee issue.

65 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad