Madrid go four points ahead

REAL MADRID capitalised on slip-ups by their two main title rivals to open up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Matea Kovacic’s first-ever La Liga goal put Zinedine Zidane’s men on their way to a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad that enabled them to bounce back from a humbling in the Copa del Rey to Celta Vigo.

Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target at the Bernabeu, for the 20th time for his club so far this season, and Alvaro Morata added the third as Real completed the double over Sociedad.

Zidane’s men, who have suffered just one La Liga defeat so far this season, to Sevilla on January 15, are also in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Sociedad, who went into the game having posted back-to-back league wins, finished the game with 10 men after Inigo Martinez was sent off on 74 minutes.

The breakthrough came against the run of play on 38 minutes when Ronaldo spotted an opening and his through-ball enabled Kovacic to fire past the on-rushing Geronimo Rulli.

Kovacic repaid the favour six minutes into the second half when he played Ronaldo into space and the Portuguese star calmly dinked the ball over Rulli’s head.

There was no way back for the visitors when Martinez was sent off on 74 minutes after being shown a second yellow card for a foul on Casemiro, and Real added a third on 83 minutes when Navas sparked a counter-attack which saw Lucas Vazquez place a delicious cross into the path of substitute Morata, who nodded it home.

Real are now firmly on course for a first league title since 2012 and a 33rd overall, with second-placed Barcelona held to a 1-1 draw at Real Betis.

It could have been worse for the Catalans had striker Luis Suarez not scored a late equaliser from the spot, although the champions will feel aggrieved they were not given a goal earlier as replays showed the ball clearly over the line.

Elsewhere, third-placed Sevilla were defeated 3-1 by Espanyol.