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Real Madrid increase their lead at the top of La Liga whilst Barcelona crumble against Real Sociedad

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Spain, November 28, 2016: His brace against Sporting Gijon gave him five in a week, more importantly it kept Los Blancos well ahead of the chasing pack after it secured them a 2-1 win.

Carlos Carmona gave Sporting some hope but once Duje Cop (who had missed a late penalty) was sent off with 10 to go, the visitors’ chances disappeared.

A much-changed Real side did struggle for long periods however, and if they’ve not recovered any more of their first XI before the trip to the Camp Nou, Zinedine Zidane might be looking at his first loss of the season.

Fortunately, the all-whites can afford to lose and still be top, so the status quo is unlikely to concern the Frenchman.

Barcelona hadn’t won at Real Sociedad since 2007 and quite how they managed to get to half time at the Anoeta on level terms is anyone’s guess.

Quite simply, La Real outplayed, out-fought and out-thought the Catalans in a one-sided opening half.

In fact, their passing accuracy dropped below 76 percent for the first time in five years which says everything about their standard of performance.

Once Willian Jose had comically put the hosts ahead with a header that Gerard Pique somehow managed to kick into the roof of his own net, the writing looked on the wall.pique

That was until Neymar put on the afterburners and found Lionel Messi who made no mistake with a fierce, low drive.

An audacious chip from Carlos Vela on 75 deserved a goal and with Juanmi’s follow up incorrectly ruled out for offside, Barca got out of jail.

That the Blaugrana stopped a run of successive defeats with their worst performance of the campaign by far will be of no comfort to Luis Enrique who’s side end the weekend six points behind Real.

source: The Sun