Real 2 : 0 Sociedad
Monday, September 18, 2006

Real Madrid bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat to beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in La Liga on Sunday (17 September).

After a poor first half display in which Madrid were booed and jeered at half time, the home side went ahead through Jose Antonio Reyes, who scored his first goal for the club in the 69th minute.

Former England captain David Beckham added the second goal in stoppage time.

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello was under pressure to show his side's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Olympique Lyon on Wednesday was simply a blip, when Real played host to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday.

It didn't appear that way during the first 40 minutes in which the home side failed to create a single chance until Jose Antonio Reyes freed Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutch international striker then forced Real Sociedad goalkeeper Asier Riesgo into an acrobatic save.

The half time whistle couldn't come soon enough for some Madrid fans and when it did, they vented their frustrations at their team by booing and jeering.

Whether it was that unfriendly sound or a half time team talk from Capello, but Madrid were an improved side after the break.

World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro almost broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a diving header from a Reyes corner, but van Nistelrooy was in the way.

Real Madrid finally got the goal their second half performance deserved when Reyes, who's on a swap/loan deal from English side Arsenal, scored with a stunning free kick in the 69th minute.

That goal relaxed the home side, and eased the worries of their critical fans.

They cheered ironically when Sociedad were reduced to 10 men as Mikel Aranburu was shown a red card for a foul on Sergio Ramos in the 73rd minute.

Sociedad, who offered very little throughout, threw all their men forward when they won a corner deep into stoppage time.

It proved a costly mistake as former England captain David Beckham, who had replaced Reyes as a substitute, ran from his own half to score.

Discuss in: Forum | Message board