Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Real Madrid humiliated after blowing two-goal lead while Barça scrape home

Wearing their all-pink change kit, the visitors looked rattled and Sociedad took the lead in the 65th minute

Saul Brookfield
Monday 01 September 2014 00:27 BST
Comments
Gareth Bale, left, scored Madrid's second with a superb turn and finish
Gareth Bale, left, scored Madrid's second with a superb turn and finish

Real Madrid’s expensively assembled side was sensationally beaten 4-2 by Real Sociedad last night after letting slip a two-goal lead.

The European Cup holders may have bought Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez over the summer but the way they collapsed at the Anoeta Stadium suggests Real should have strengthened their defence.

Sergio Ramos had put Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead in the fifth minute with a powerful header from a corner and even without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo they looked to be running away with the game when a superb turn and finish from Gareth Bale made it 2-0 after just 11 minutes.

Yet Sociedad got back into contention in the 35th minute when defender Inigo Martinez was left unmarked at the far post to score from a flicked on corner. More gaps then appeared in the visitors’ defence as David Zurutuza ghosted in to head home from a deep cross.

Wearing their all-pink change kit, the visitors looked rattled and Sociedad took the lead in the 65th minute, Zurutuza scoring at the near post. The former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela then wrapped up a memorable victory by capitalising on some more poor Madrid defending at a corner.

Barcelona made hard work of beating Villarreal, needing a late goal from substitute Sandro Ramirez to earn a slightly fortunate away win.

Lionel Messi had earlier hit the post twice but Villarreal also went close on several occasions, Barça’s Jérémy Mathieu nearly scoring an own goal and Tomas Pina cracking a long shot against the bar. But in the 82nd minute Messi was played in down the right of the penalty area by Neymar and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo for Ramirez to finish on the line.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in