Higuain scored the only goal of the match |
Four new faces made Mourinho's lineup: Higuain, Ozil, Lass and Coentrao. Real Sociedad defended fiercely and centre forward Vela was their only creative man in attack. The Whites didn't mind and took possession of the ball, playing in the locals' half of the pitch. Nine minutes into the game, Coentrao served a sensational pass to the box and Higuain sent the ball into goal with a slight touch as Bravo desperately tried to clear it.
The locals continued to play defensively. Casillas didn't intervene in the entire first half, while Bravo was forced to save his team at least two or three times. The Chilean goalkeeper cleared an amazing shot from Di Maria from inside the box on the 40-minute mark.
After half-time, Real Sociedad showcased a more aggressive style and pressurised closer to attack. Mourinho's men lost control of the game, but they never suffered. The manager looked for solutions, making Kaka come on for Ozil (63') and Khedira for Lass (68').
Griezmann took the pitch and put Casillas to the test with a powerful shot from outside the box. The Real Madrid captain strained himself to clear it and sent the ball to corner. It must be said the French player should have seen a red card for a very late challenge on Ramos, but the referee incomprehensibly only showed him a yellow card. The match went crazy from then on as Real Sociedad looked for an equaliser and the Madridistas tried to sentence the game.
Di Maria crossed the ball into the area on the 73-minute mark, but both Cristiano and Ramos failed to reach it, leaving it to pass by Bravo. Benzema came on for Higuain (81') while the locals continued to put a lot of pressure on the Whites. But Real Madrid withstood it and managed to stop their onslaughts with the extraordinary physical and tactical work done by Ramos and Pepe.
Real Madrid have had a perfect run in October, winning all their clashes. They showcased pride and hard work against Real Sociedad. They must now focus on their Champions League game against Olympique Lyonnais, in which a victory would give them a ticket to the Last 16.
Summary
Stadium: Anoeta
Attendance: 27,000
Goal: 0-1 Higuain min.9.