Madrid: A first-half double from Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid cement their position at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 wins at home to Leganes Sunday. They also went five points clear of their main rivals Barcelona who lock horns with Sevilla late Sunday night.
Atletico Madrid suffered their second defeat of the season as they were beaten 0-2 by Real Sociedad in the la Liga at the Anoeta stadium here, Saturday. Reeling from a chaotic midweek 3-3 draw at Legia Warsaw in the Champions League, Real got off to a slow start against neighbours Leganes, but Bale put them in charge in the 37th minute.
The Wales international raced onto a through ball from Isco that split the visiting defence and rounded goalkeeper Jon Serantes to tuck the ball inside the near post from a tight angle.
Bale then cashed in on poor defending from a free kick to hit the second on the stroke of halftime, just beating Serantes to the loose ball from close range. Real’s Spain striker Alvaro Morata, standing in for the injured Karim Benzema, rounded off the win in the 76th minute.
Both of Atletico’s defeats this season have come in away games following Champions League matches and they looked flat as Real Sociedad took advantage with two second-half goals.
Kevin Gameiro hit the post for Atletico in an even first half, but the home side were better after the break with Yuri drawing a 54th minute penalty from Atletico captain Gabi, which Carlos Vela converted with a cool finish.
Vela drew a second penalty 15 minutes from time and Willian Jose stepped up to score a goal which ensured Real Sociedad will go into the international break in the top-six.
Indo-Asian News Service
