Real Madrid frustrated despite late equaliser in draw with Real Sociedad
Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior got here off the bench to grab a 1-1 draw at house to Real Sociedad on Monday though the Spanish champions nonetheless misplaced momentum in the title race earlier than subsequent Sunday’s showdown on the leaders, Atlético Madrid.
Still lacking key gamers as a result of a litany of accidents, Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid aspect hit the bar twice in the primary half however the guests took the lead in the fifty fifth minute with a towering header from the ahead Portu.
Toni Kroos got here near levelling with a curling effort that simply missed the goal however the Brazilian teen Vinícius finally discovered an equaliser in the 89th minute with a deflected effort from inside the world.
Madrid had the possibility to maneuver inside three factors of Atlético going into Sunday’s derby however the draw left them third on 53 factors from 25 video games, degree with second-placed Barcelona and 5 adrift of Diego Simeone’s leaders, who’ve a recreation in hand.
“We had a good first half, we started the second badly then they scored a great goal. We got one back but there was no time left to get a second,” stated the Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois.
The guests felt they need to have had been awarded a penalty in the primary half when Nacho Monreal was tackled by Casemiro, but Madrid appeared the extra harmful aspect despite managing just one shot on track earlier than the break.
Mariano’s header was glanced on to the crossbar by Sociedad’s Andoni Gorosabel whereas the free ball fell to Marco Asensio, whose shot was deflected huge for a nook from which Raphaël Varane’s header hit the highest of the bar.
Madrid’s Casemiro fizzed a shot from distance simply huge, whereas Luka Modric was the one participant who truly examined visiting keeper Álex Remiro.
After taking the lead towards the run of play by way of Portu’s thumping header, Sociedad ought to have killed the sport off as Alexander Isak narrowly failed to attach with a cross from Portu, whereas Robin Le Normand got here shut with a header.
Madrid lacked composure and concepts however maintained their starvation to search out an equaliser and at last acquired one with a scrappy purpose, Lucas Vázquez serving a low cross which bobbled across the field and was knocked in by Vinícius with the help of a deflection.
“We leave here with a bad taste as we fought for 93 minutes and gave everything,” stated Sociedad’s Portu. “We tried to hold on for the win but they kept attacking and got the equaliser.”
The draw leaves Sociedad fifth on 42 factors from 25 matches, six behind fourth-placed Sevilla, who’ve a recreation in hand.
