MADRID
Gareth
Bale deputised ably for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo with a wonder
strike from 35 yards as Real Madrid kept up the pressure on Atletico
Madrid and Barcelona with a 4-0 win away to Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Atletico
stay top, three points clear of third-placed Real, as they squeezed out
a tense 1-0 win over Villarreal, whilst Barca remain in second after
overcoming Real Betis 3-1 thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi.
Real
were leading 1-0 thanks to Asier Illarramendi's opener when Bale
pounced on an error from Sociedad keeper Claudio Bravo to register his
18th goal of the season with a sweet left-footed striker 25 minutes from
time before Pepe and Alvaro Morata rounded off the scoring.
"I value the whole game because I think everyone played well and with a lot of intelligence," said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"I am very happy tonight because it was not an easy game. I have a team that likes to fight and I am very proud of them."
Without
World Player of the Year Ronaldo due to a knee problem, Madrid took
their time to get going in San Sebastian and could have been behind when
Antoine Griezmann's header flashed just over the bar midway through the
first-half.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's men went in
front the first time they really threatened the Sociedad goal as Bale
fed Karim Benzema and when Bravo could only parry the Frenchman's
effort, Illarramendi was on hand to slot home against his former club.
RAMOS, BENZEMA HIT THE CROSSBAR
Sergio Ramos and Benzema then struck the bar as Real started the second-half with greater intent.
Bale
killed the game off as a contest when he collected Bravo's errant
clearance and thumped the ball into the bottom corner before the Chilean
international could get himself back into position.
Pepe added a third as he turned home Ramos' knockdown before substitute Alvaro Morata broke clear to make it 4-0.
Barcelona
were made to struggle at home to bottom-placed Betis as they needed two
penalties and a Jordi Figueras own goal to see off Los Verdiblancos.
Messi
put his side in front from the spot after just 15 minutes and the hosts
looked to have the game sewn up when Figueras turned the ball into his
own net from fully 20 yards.
Ruben Castro brought Betis
back into the game moments later, but Messi killed the game off four
minutes from time by slotting home the rebound after Antonio Adan had
saved his second penalty of the day.
And Barca boss
Gerardo Martino admitted his side had suffered a bit of a hangover from
their Champions League clash with Atletico in midweek.
"When
you play for something that is so important twice in such a short
period of time as the two games against Atletico what comes in the
middle isn't as decisive," he said.
"I was also a bit
short with the rotation of the players. Watching the game I could have
given more rest to some of the players that played against Atletico."
Atletico
were also far from their best as an early goal from Raul Garcia was
enough to claim all three points at home to Villarreal.
"We
were holding on more because it was only 1-0 than because Villarreal
had a lot of chances," admitted Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
"The
players have come from making a huge effort in midweek and I can't find
the words to keep congratulating them on their effort and commitment."
Atletico
were without top scorer Diego Costa due to a hamstring problem and
Simeone made five changes in all from the side that started Tuesday's
1-1 draw away to Barca.
The hosts opened the scoring 14
minutes in when Koke's corner picked out captain for the day Garcia to
head home at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
Atletico
were then happy to sit on their lead as Villarreal enjoyed plenty of
possession, but without their top goalscorers Giovani dos Santos and
Ikechukwu Uche they lacked a goalscoring threat in the final third.
Jeremy
Perbet was inches away from an Villarreal equaliser as his curling
effort dipped onto the roof of the net and disaster nearly struck for
Atletico a minute from time when Toby Alderweireld turned Moi Gomez's
low cross inches past his own post.
However, the
leaders held on for a third straight 1-0 win at home in La Liga to
remain in pole position with just six games left to play.
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