Madrid, Jan 7: Real Madrid may not even challenge for the title let alone win it this season as they suffered a shock 0-2 defeat at home to Real Sociedad which left them 10 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
While Barcelona took advantage with a 2-1 win over Getafe, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla also gained on the European champions, despite earlier sharing a 1-1 draw.
Madrid played with 10 men for half an hour after Lucas Vazquez was sent off but by then they already trailed to Willian Jose’s early penalty. Ruben Pardo wrapped up a brilliant victory for La Real, who had won this fixture only once in their last 22 attempts, their first victory at Santiago Bernabeu since 2004.
“Everything went against us today,” Real coach Santiago Solari said after the game. “We did everything we could but the ball just would not go in.”
Gareth Bale was missing with a calf injury but it was the 18-year-old Vinicius Junior that came in, not Isco, who is yet to start a league game under Solari.
Karim Benzema spurned the best of Real’s chances before the break, lashing wide with only Geronimo Rulli to beat. Rulli was not needed then but he would be, many times. He denied Vinicius, Benzema and Luka Modric in quick succession. Ramos wanted a penalty for a push in his back but the appeal was desperate.
The second period was frantic, with chances at both ends. La Real could have sealed it when Mikel Oyarzabal fired over and the weaving Adnan Januzaj twice went close.
Down to 10, after Vazquez was sent off, Madrid still pushed and had a more convincing penalty appeal when Vinicius tumbled over the arm of Rulli. Referee Jose Munuera stood firm. “The decision was scandalous”, Ramos said later.