Real Sociedad 3 - 3 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 37)

Real Madrid drew in Anoeta against Real Sociedad, who were fighting for a spot in next season’s European Cup, in their last official away match of the season. The Whites took advantage of the chances that they created and completed a great display of efficiency against a team that never gave up in front of a crowd that were fully behind their team. Higuain cleverly took advantage of Mikel Gonzalez’s mistake and gave the Whites the lead with a shot into the far corner in the 6th minute and then, in the second half, Callejon, with a subtle back-heel, increased the lead. Xabi Prieto pulled one back with a penalty before Griezmann equalised the match twelve minutes before full-time. But just as the home crowd were putting on more pressure, Khedira’s amazing individual move in which he linked with Ozil was finished with a nice chip to beat Bravo. In added time and the very last play, Xabi Prieto levelled the match despite the great display from Diego Lopez.

Real Madrid missed out on the win in last second

Real Madrid played their last official away match of the season against Real Sociedad. The home team were not going to make it easy. In fact, they needed the win to get closer to their aim of Champions League football next season. Despite that, the Whites responded to the continuous home support by putting themselves ahead in Anoeta with their first shot on goal. Higuain cleverly took advantage of Mikel Gonzalez’s mistake to beat Bravo with a shot into the far corner in a one-on-one. Only six minutes had passed before the Whites went ahead on the scoreboard.

The visitors’ goal spurred on Real Sociedad even more. The home side played at a higher tempo and started creating regular opportunities to score against Real Madrid. But Diego Lopez was on hand to make two great stops from headers from Griezmann and Agirretxe in the 20th and 22nd minutes respectively. With the team from San Sebastian attacking relentlessly, the home crowd supporting their team to the point of exhaustion and the Whites doing a very solid job the first half in Anoeta ended.

The second half began with chances for both teams. Kaka had the first, but his shot in the 49th minute did not have enough curl on it. In the next move Agirretxe shot with a volley from inside the area. The great full-stretch save from Diego Lopez denied the equaliser. The pace was frantic and the second could have come following a Khedira cross and a poor headed clearance from Inigo. The ball went just inches from Bravo's goal in the 52nd minute. Real Madrid looked more comfortable on the field. They had got through the period of pressure and the result was dominance of possession and chances to score. They did not take long to take advantage of one of them. Kaka took control of the ball, came one-on-one with Carlos Martinez and made a masterful pass to Callejon, who finished his diagonal run with a delicate back-heel which beat the keeper in the 57th minute.

Real Sociedad did not want to give up and pulled one back just five minutes later. Gonzalez Gonzalez gave a penalty for a cross that hit Khedira on the arm and Xabi Prieto made no mistake from the spot. The home crowd once again began to pressure the Whites and it got its results following a Carlos Martinez cross that was finished by Griezmann from in front of goal in the 78th minute. It was all square once again with twelve minutes until the end of the match, but just as the home crowd were putting on more pressure, Khedira’s amazing individual move in which he linked with Ozil was finished with a nice chip to beat Bravo. In added time and the very last play, Xabi Prieto levelled the match.

Summary

Stadium: Anoeta
Attendance: 32,000
Goals: 0-1 Higuain min.5; 0-2 Callejon min.57; 1-2 Xabi Prieto min.64; 2-2 Griezmann min.78; 2-3 Khedira min.80; 3-3 Xabi Prieto min.93