In a thrilling night of football at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid overturned a one-goal deficit to secure a resounding and well-deserved 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the 27th round of the 2021-2022 La Liga season. This crucial win strengthened the Royal Club's position at the top of the table, widening the gap with their closest rivals and sending a powerful message to their domestic and European competitors.
Match details and events
The match began unexpectedly for the home side, as Real Sociedad opened the scoring early in the 10th minute through a penalty converted by their star player, Mikel Oyarzabal, putting Carlo Ancelotti's team under pressure. However, Real Madrid's response was swift, as the team demonstrated its resilience and ability to come back. In the 40th minute, young French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga unleashed a powerful long-range shot that found the back of the net, leveling the score. Just three minutes later, veteran Croatian Luka Modric added a second goal with another superb strike from outside the penalty area, giving his team the lead before halftime.
In the second half, Real Madrid continued their dominance, converting their control into a third goal in the 76th minute through a well-executed penalty by captain Karim Benzema. Marco Asensio completed the scoring in the 79th minute after a swift counter-attack, securing all three points for Los Blancos.
The importance of winning and its impact on the title race
This victory wasn't just three points for Real Madrid; it was a huge morale boost for the team. Following this win, Real Madrid increased their points tally to 63, eight points ahead of second-placed Sevilla, putting them in a very comfortable position in the race for the Spanish league title. Furthermore, the manner of the victory and the remarkable comeback (the "remontada") highlighted the fighting spirit of the team under Ancelotti's leadership.
General context and international impact
This victory came at a crucial time, serving as ideal psychological and physical preparation for Real Madrid ahead of their highly anticipated and decisive Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. This strong performance and resounding victory sent a clear warning to their Parisian opponents, confirming that the Santiago Bernabéu will be a formidable venue. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad's points tally remains at 44, further complicating their chances of qualifying for European competitions.
