A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win by the odd goal in seven against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu this evening.
The home side broke their duck for 2013 with only 90 seconds of the match gone. Sami Khedira found Karim Benzema inside the area with time and space and the French international slotted the ball underneath an advancing Claudio Bravo.
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However, Madrid's lead lasted just seven minutes. Goalkeeper Antonio Adan was handed his marching orders for bringing down Carlos Vela inside the area and captain Xabi Prieto stepped up send the resultant penalty past replacement Iker Casillas.
Prieto could have doubled his tally just moments later following a mistake by Casillas, but the skipper could only find the side-netting from a tight angle.
Despite being down to ten men, the hosts settled into the encounter and with 35 minutes played they went back in front. Khedira was the scorer on this occasion, flicking the ball into the net after Ricardo Carvalho had crossed the ball into the box.
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Back came the Basque visitors though and Prieto claimed his second of the match with 39 minutes gone when he took advantage of some uncertainty from the Madrid defence to beat Casillas from eight yards out.
Madrid responded positively and almost held the lead going into the break, but Benzema's curling effort from just inside the area struck the post deep into stoppage time.
Jose Mourinho's team were the dominant force after the restart and two Ronaldo goals in the space of three minutes proved to be crucial.
His first in the 68th minute came about as Benzema chipped over the Sociedad defence for the Madrid captain to take in his stride before scoring into the right-hand corner of the net. Then, moments later he sent a free kick from 30 yards out over Bravo and into the goal via the crossbar.
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Substitute Gonzalo Higuain almost wrapped up the points for Madrid with 76 minutes played, but he could only strike the bar from the edge of the area.
The Argentine's failure to score was punished seconds later when Prieto moved into the Madrid area unopposed following a quick counter-attack and the captain bent the ball into the net from six yards out.
In a further twist, Sociedad were also reduced to ten men with nine minutes left as Daniel Estrada was sent off for bringing down Ronaldo on the left touchline.
The remainder of the match was dominated by the home team, but they were unable to add further goals to their tally. Nevertheless, they have the cut the gap on rivals Barcelona at the top to 13 points.
Liam Apicella
