Real Madrid took another step towards the 36th Spanish championship title in its history by winning against Real Sociedad (1-0), Friday in the opening match of the 33rd day, four days from their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern in Munich. The Madrid club is provisionally fourteen points ahead in the standings over FC Barcelona, its immediate follow-up, which it beat 3-2 during the previous day last Sunday and which will only play Monday evening at home against Valencia (8th) .
Before kick-off, given in pouring rain, the Anoeta stadium paid tribute to former Manchester City Spain international David Silva, aged 38, who finished his career at Real Sociedad at the end of last season. On the Madrid side, coach Carlo Ancelotti left his executives Jude Bellingham, Vinicius, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rüdiger and Federico Valverde on the bench, ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern on Tuesday in Munich. Vinicius, Rüdiger and Valverde came on in the second half.
Real opened the scoring with their young Turk Arda Güler, 19, who victoriously took a cross from Daniel Carvajal at the far post, alerted on the right side by Aurélien Tchouaméni (29th). The Basques thought they had equalized in the 32nd minute through their Japanese striker Takefusa Kubo, but the goal was canceled after viewing the VAR for a prior foul by Ander Barrenetxea on Tchouaméni.
This defeat does not help Real Sociedad’s affairs in its fight for a European place. Especially since in the last five matches it will play in Barcelona, host Valencia (8th), travel to Seville against Betis (7th) and finally welcome Atlético Madrid (4th) on Sunday May 26. Real Madrid, who have only lost once this season in La Liga, at their neighbor Atlético (3-1) on September 24 (6th day), are now up to six wins in a row in the league. On Saturday, Atlético hosts Athletic Bilbao in a perhaps decisive match in the race for the Champions League next season.