After Barcelona beat Real Betis by five points in a resounding display on Saturday, the onus fell on Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid team to achieve their record of one hundred percent and that’s what they did, against the tricky Basque visitors.
Boosted by electric Takefusa Kubo, Real Sociedad temporarily went ahead thanks to Ander Barrenetxea, but Madrid responded with goals from Fede Valverde and Joselu to claim their fifth win in five games.
Overseas England Jude Bellingham has been unable to continue his goalscoring form, having scored five goals in his first four games in Madrid, but remains the division’s most sensible goalscorer.
Madrid begin their Champions League crusade on Wednesday at home to Union Berlin, and despite losing this summer’s Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and star player Vinicius Junior to injuries, they remain a force to be reckoned with.
“We have continued to believe, we know that here at home what we have won is incredible,” said left back Fran Garcia, author of both goals.
“I am satisfied with the team, now we have to think about the next game which will be very soon. “
Garcia went through Real Madrid’s youth formula and joined the capital’s club, Rayo Vallecano, before Los Blancos brought him back this summer.
The Basque went ahead at the new Santiago Bernabeu in the fifth minute, when Kubo left a good pass behind Barrenetxea’s track.
Kepa Arrizabalaga held the first shot with a great stop but missed the second.
Kubo then beat the goalkeeper with a brilliant shot, but the ball grazed Mikel Oyarzabal’s offside on his tackle, so it was overturned.
Joselu hit the crossbar with the open goal and Alex Remiro rejected Dani Carvajal’s volley after a swooping pass from Bellingham as Madrid found the balance.
Valverde equalized Real Madrid less than a minute into the second half, hitting the post on a Fran Garcia retreat from outside the area.
The left-back created the second goal, centering for striker Joselu to sign the hosts at the second post.
The Spain international, on loan from Espanyol, was immediately replaced by Eduardo Camavinga, while Ancelotti looked to improve the game.
The Italian also understood that the visitors no longer found space between Madrid lines, while Rodrygo dug a single groove in front.
Bellingham almost extended their run in stoppage time, but Remiro saved the header after Brahim Diaz discovered the England star was arriving in the area.
“I think we want to fix some things, because we scored a goal very early, but this is the Bernabeu and, in combination with our fans, we changed the situation,” Joselu said.
“We do a bit of everything, we have confidence in ourselves, there is a lot of quality and we have scored again.
“I am satisfied, they are objectives that bring issues to the team, 3 issues, I am satisfied to continue contributing my grain of sand”.
Madrid leads Barcelona by two points, with Spain’s two most sensible teams unbeaten, the Catalans drawing in their first match against Getafe.