Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad: Winners and Losers from La Liga
Real Madrid finished 2015 with a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad in La Liga on Wednesday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a first-half penalty but converted another in the 42nd minute to give Madrid the lead. Bruma equalized for Sociedad early in the first half, but Ronaldo restored his side's advantage midway through the second half.
Lucas Vazquez finished off the win with a late goal to take Real Madrid provisionally to the top of the league, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona still to play later Wednesday.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo (Yes, Even After That Miss)
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Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty badly in the first half, skying his shot over the bar, but he recovered nicely and led Real Madrid to victory with two goals.
His first strike came from his second penalty of the match. After missing the first, he made no mistake with this one, stroking his spot kick past Geronimo Rulli.
The second was a work of art. In the 67th minute, the Portugal international positioned himself under a Marcelo corner before turning and firing in a volley with one smooth motion. His technique was perfect, and his solid connection was enough to beat Rulli again.
It turned out to be the winner, and Ronaldo was able to finish 2015 on a high note.
Loser: The Penalty Decisions
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Real Madrid's strong second half meant victory was just about deserved, but the hosts received two big lifelines from referee Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez in the first half.
In the 23rd minute, Madrid's Karim Benzema dropped to the turf inside Sociedad's box following a challenge by Yuri Berchiche. Gonzalez blew his whistle, but replays suggested the decision was harsh on the visitors.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed the ensuing penalty, giving Sociedad a sense of justice, but Gonzalez awarded another penalty shortly before halftime.
This decision was even more puzzling. As Gareth Bale crossed from the right, the ball bounced off Berchiche's thigh and struck his arm. It was accidental contact, and yet Gonzalez decided it was enough to warrant a penalty. Ronaldo converted the second spot kick, giving Madrid a 1-0 halftime lead.
As Spain-based journalist Dermot Corrigan tweeted, the second penalty should not have been awarded, based on La Liga's rulebook.
"Two of the softest penalties you will ever like to see given to Real Madrid in this half," tweeted Bleacher Report contributor Matt Jones. "Pretty fortunate to be ahead."
In the second half, Gonzalez failed to award a third penalty to Madrid for an incident that was strikingly similar to the second. Not only were the referee's decisions poor, but they were also inconsistent.
Winners: Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez
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Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez combined for Real Madrid's third goal, which sealed victory in the 86th minute. In doing so, they might just have bought Rafa Benitez more time as manager.
Bale, who sparkled throughout the match, capped a strong performance with a superb, curling cross from the left. Vazquez, a second-half substitute, controlled with a deft first touch before slotting into the net. It was his first goal for the club.
With that, Real Madrid closed out 2015 on a positive note and possibly gave the under-fire Benitez more time at the helm. Whistles and boos rained down from the stands before kickoff and throughout the match as the home fans voiced their disapproval of the Spanish manager. But with this win, Benitez is probably safe for at least a few more weeks.
That said, anything is possible in football, and speculation in the media has been rampant for weeks. If Madrid do decide to make a change, how many of us would really be surprised?
Up next is a trip to Valencia followed by a home match against Deportivo La Coruna. For now, all Benitez can do is prepare for each match as he would any other.
“If the coach thinks there’s a campaign (against him), that has to be respected," Vazquez told Diario AS (h/t Football Espana). "We’re dedicated to playing and that’s it. The fans can applaud and whistle. We have to continue working on this line and winning games. We have to respect the views of the public.”
Loser: Real Sociedad's Luck with Injuries
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Real Sociedad had to make two substitutions due to injury in the first half. Both were costly to the visitors' chances.
In the 18th minute, Bruma replaced Imanol Agirretxe after the latter left the pitch on a stretcher. Agirretxe had come close to scoring moments earlier but sustained an injury in a one-on-one challenge with Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
This was no small loss for Sociedad. Up to that point, Agirretxe had scored 12 of his side's 17 league goals this season. Any time he spends on the sidelines could be disastrous to Sociedad, who are hovering perilously near the relegation zone.
Sergio Canales was the next to depart, leaving the game in the 45th minute. Before the match was finished, Football Espana tweeted that reports in Spain have indicated that Canales suffered a torn ACL. Such an injury would rule out the attacking midfielder for an extended period.
Winner: Bruma
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Bruma, a 21-year-old winger on loan with Real Sociedad from Galatasaray, scored his first La Liga goal in the 49th minute. It was a stunner.
Collecting an angled pass from Jonathas on the left side of the box, Bruma cut inside before curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Keylor Navas, who turned in a good performance in Real Madrid's goal, had absolutely no chance.
The goal brought Sociedad level at 1-1, and while it didn't lead to a win (or even a draw), Bruma will surely remember this one for a long while.
