Real Madrid regain Spanish league lead
Real beat Sociedad to reclaim Spanish league lead
Madrid, June 22: Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema scored secondhalf goals as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to take the lead from Barcelona for the first time since the Spanish league resumed.
Ramos converted a 50thminute penalty kick and Benzema added to the lead in the 70th to move Madrid ahead of the Catalan club, which on Friday was held by fourth-place Sevilla to a 00 draw.
Madrid and Barcelona are level on 65 points, but Madrid has a better goal difference and a better head-to-head record against its rival.
Barcelona had stayed ahead after two straight victories since the league restarted.
Madrid kept its perfect record on its return despite a lackluster first half at Sociedad. Ramos broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Vincius Jnior was fouled, and Benzema sealed the victory from inside the area for his third goal after the break.
Sociedad had a goal disallowed for offside just before Benzema’s goal. Mikel Merino eventually pulled the hosts closer in the 83rd with a shot that struck the crossbar before going in, but Sociedad was not able to get the equaliser.
Meanwhile, Celta Vigo earned its first win after the break with a 6-0 rout of 10-man Alavs.
Rafinha scored twice and newly signed striker Nolito added another on his return to Celta, which was coming off a draw and a loss after the league resumed. Jeison Murillo, Iago Aspas and Santi Mina completed the scoring to lift Celta four points clear of the relegation zone.
Alavs, which dropped to
13th, played most of the match with 10 men as Martn Aguirregabiria was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul in the 27th minute. — AP