Real Madrid’s title pursuit gained further momentum with a slender 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, courtesy of a goal from Turkish prodigy Arda Guler.
The win on Friday extended Madrid’s lead to a formidable 14 points atop La Liga.
The aftermath of their Clasico triumph over Barcelona saw Madrid inching ever closer to reclaiming the title, with 19-year-old Guler playing a pivotal role despite a season marred by injuries.
In his first league start, Guler’s goal secured a hard-fought win for a Madrid side that saw significant rotation at the Reale Arena.
With an eye on the upcoming Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest the bulk of his starting lineup.
Jude Bellingham, Madrid’s leading scorer, was among the stars relegated to the bench as he recovered from a stomach ailment.
The match unfolded under a relentless downpour in San Sebastian, with Madrid’s attack subdued and the hosts asserting dominance.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Madrid shot-stopper on loan from Chelsea, was called into action to thwart Takefusa Kubo’s attempts, keeping La Real at bay.
Ancelotti’s lineup also marked the return of Eder Militao from a lengthy knee injury, though the Brazilian defender’s performance was tinged with rustiness.
Despite this, Real Sociedad failed to capitalize, with Benat Turrientes coming close but not close enough.
Madrid broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when Aurelien Tchouameni found Dani Carvajal, whose precise low cross met Guler’s timely run for a clinical finish.
A disallowed goal for Kubo, due to a preceding foul, kept Madrid ahead as the first half concluded.
The second half saw Ancelotti bolster his ranks with Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde, while Antonio Rudiger’s crucial intervention denied Mikel Oyarzabal a chance to equalize.
Goalkeeper Alex Remiro’s late heroics for Sociedad were in vain as Madrid held firm in the closing minutes, securing the win.
While Barcelona’s upcoming fixture against Valencia might be a mere formality in the title race, Madrid’s unremarkable display belies their ambition for a historic league and Champions League double, a feat they are poised to achieve for the fifth time.
