Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid: Arda Guler strike sees Carlo Ancelotti's side go one step closer to La Liga title

Real Madrid's procession towards the La Liga title continued with a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad.

Carlo Ancelotti rested most of his stars ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but Los Blancos' second-string lineup impressed.

Real Sociedad dominated possession but created few clear-cut chances and when Real finally carved out an opportunity in the first half, Arda Guler made no mistake, side-footing home Dani Carvajal's cross on his full debut.

Sociedad seemed to have an equaliser shortly afterwards when Take Kubo slid home but it was ruled out due to a foul on Aurelien Tchouameni by Ander Barrenetxea.

The second half saw few threats to the Real goal and they now could well seal the championship in the next two games.

The leaders are 14 points clear of second-place Barcelona, while Sociedad remain sixth.

The 18 months Carlo Ancelotti spent at Everton is an abnormality in his coaching career. Appointed in December 2019, his first season was the only one in which his side finished in the bottom half and in his only full season he led the team to 10th place - still far from battling from the summit where his sides have resided during the rest of his career.

Playing a second-string side tonight, his Real Madrid side was a betting underdog for one of the first times in a domestic match since being back at the club and had to watch as their opponent dominated possession - just as he had to do away from Goodison Park in the Premier League.

The first choice XI showed a capability of defending against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium when against a superior passing side and tonight the lesser lights did the same.

You get the feeling Ancelotti would have enjoyed marshalling a side against the odds, albeit helped by the experience of Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric, and his charges stuck to the task perfectly, holding off Sociedad's attacks and they could have scored more themselves on the counter attack.

Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) - It is no surprise with the talented players Real Madrid has at their disposal that an orthodox right back would not grab a great deal of attention. Attentive Los Blancos fans have suggested after Jude Bellingham he may be their most consistent performer of the campaign and he did not put a foot wrong tonight - including a fine first-time assist.

Real Sociedad: Remiro 6; Odriozola 7, Zubeldia 6, Le Normand 6, Javi Galan 6; Zubimendi 6, Merino 6, Barrenetxea 6, Kubo 7; Turrientes 6, Oyarzabal 6.

Subs: Zakharyan 6, Elustondo 6, Becker 6, Andre Silva.

Real Madrid: Kepa 7; Carvajal 8*, Eder Militao 6, Nacho 6, Fran Garcia 6; Tchouameni 7, Ceballos 6; Modric 6, Brahim Diaz 6; Guler 7, Joselu 7.

Subs: Valverde 6, Vinicius Jr 6, Camavinga 6, Rudiger 6. Vazquez 6.

28' JUST OVER THE BAR! A fantastic shot from Turrientes, after Oyarzabal nutmegged Militao and teed him up. It looked set to clip the underside of the bar but flew just over.

29' GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 REAL MADRID (GULER)! Carvajal hits a fantastic first-time low cross from the right flank and Guler finishes first time at the back post through the goalkeeper's leg.

32' GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD (TAKE) 1-1 REAL MADRID! DISALLOWED... Tchouameni is robbed on the edge of his own box and then Take moves the ball outside of Militao and slides the ball home. The referee is going to check on the sideline screen though - and it is disallowed as Barrenetxea is penalised for a foul on Tchouameni.

39' TCHOUAMENI SHOOTS FROM DISTANCE! But Remiro denies him stretching full-length to his right.

46' TURRIENTES SHOOTS FIRST TIME FROM THE EDGE OF AREA! But Kepa sprawls across his line to save at the near post.

73' BALL IN THE REAL NET! Oyarzabal controlled a through-ball and immediately slid a shot past Kepa but he was a yard offside.

90+5' GREAT CHANCE FOR CAMAVINGA! He shoots to Remiro's left but the keeper parries away.

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