Real Madrid have overtaken FC Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, with Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema inspiring the side to victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday night.
LaLiga
Result: Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid
Date: 21 June 2020
Venue: Reale Arena
Click through the gallery to see Benzema's controversial goal in the win on Sunday night.
James Rodriguez was a surprise call-up to the Los Blancos line-up as he joined Vinicius Junior and Benzema in the attack. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale was once again left on the bench.
Los Blancos looked lively in the early stages of the encounter but they were only able to fashion a couple long-range efforts in the opening 20 minutes.
Benzema, who bagged a brace on Thursday, went close just after half-hour mark when he forced Alex Remiro into a good save after collecting a pass from Federico Valverde.
Sociedad had won three of the last four matches against Los Blancos, but they struggled to get going in the first half as Alexander Isak cut a frustrated figure up against Ramos and Raphael Varane.
Remiro was called into action just before the halftime break, with the Sociedad shot-stopper producing a fine save to keep out Vinicius' stinging effort.
Vinicius got his reward shortly after the break when he earned Los Blancos a penalty after being brought down by Diego Llorente, which allowed Ramos to slot home from 12-yards out.
That proved to be Ramos' last involvement after the Real skipper was taken off for Eder Militao in the 60th minute after colliding with Isak in his own box.
Sociedad had the ball in the back of the net eight minutes later when Adnan Januzaj rifled the ball home from 20-yards out, but the strike was ruled out after Mikel Morena was deemed to have been in offside poisition while obstructing Thibaut Courtois' view by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
VAR came to Real's rescue at the other end when Benzema found the back of the net amidst cries of a handball in the build-up, but the strike was deemed eligible.
Merino set up a nervy final seven when he pulled a goal back for the visitors with his fourth league goal of the season after the Real defence went to sleep.
However, Los Blancos managed to close up shop in the final stages to clinch three points which sees them move top of the standings, level on points Barcelona although they lead in the head-to-head record.
