Real Madrid's winless away run continued as they lot 3-1 to Real Sociedad in Sunday's La Liga clash after having Jesus Vallejo sent off.
Brahim Diaz put Madrid in front six minutes into the match, only for Mikel Merino to equalise 20 minutes later.
Vallejo was then shown his red card for a handball on the line and, while Willian Jose could not convert the penalty, Joseba Zaldua and Ander Barrenetxea scored in the second half to give Sociedad a comfortable victory.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the La Liga meeting between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at Anoeta.
Los Blancos are aiming to make it back-to-back league wins in the Spanish top flight to keep alive their slim hopes of finishing above Atletico Madrid in second place.
Sociedad have won two matches on the spin, meanwhile, and find themselves sitting comfortably in eighth place ahead of this match.
REAL SOCIEDAD TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Rulli; Zaldua, Moreno, Llorente, Munoz; Pardo, Zubeldia, Merino; Barrenetxea, Willian Jose, Oyarzabal
SUBS: Bautista, Rodrigues, Illarramendi, Miguel Angel Moya, Januzaj, Juanmi, Raul Navas
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Vallejo, Marcelo; Isco, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Diaz
SUBS: Modric, Valverde, Mariano, Vazquez, Vinicius Junior, Llorente
KICKOFF: Sociedad make a couple of enforced changes as Llorente and Zubeldia are brought back into the side. As for Madrid, Zidane has gone with a midfield three of Isco, Casemiro and Kroos, while Asensio and Diaz join the returning Benzema in the frontline. We are up and running at Anoeta!
© Reuters
Zidane's team selections have been a bigger talking point than the matches themselves over the last six weeks. We already knew there would be no Bale today, but otherwise there are not major surprises. Benzema's return is a massive positive for the visitors.
Madrid have started positive enough, which has not always been the case in their end-of-season matches. Los Blancos can still finish second, but it is their opponents who have more to aim for - they can still secure a Europa League spot.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 REAL MADRID (BRAHIM DIAZ)
What a brilliant goal this is from Diaz! The youngster, deemed not good enough by Man City, takes the ball past one man, then another and he has the composure to tuck the ball past Rulli from the angle. Eden Hazard-esque, it must be said!
© Reuters
CLOSE! Sociedad almost hit back instantly as Merino comes close with his attempt, which Courtois has to deal with. Pardo swings in the corner and Barrenetxea connects with the ball, but he is unable to keep his attempt on target.
The home side have responded pretty well to that early setback. It really was a wonderful strike from Diaz, who could yet play a big part for Los Blancos next season. Zidane must decide whether to retain him or loan him out - that goal may have made his decision a little easier.
There is a nice, open feel to the match. Madrid's matches, in the kindest way possible, have not always been that engaging over the last few weeks. It looks as though this will be an entertaining match, though, as Sociedad could really do with a win.
SAVE! Superb skill from Oyarzabal to control Munoz's cross just outside the box and then get a half-volley away on the spin. There was some power behind the shot but Courtois was well positioned to keep the ball out. Sociedad have been the better side so far.
Courtois is very nearly caught out by Oyarzabal. The lively Sociedad attacker charges down the Madrid keeper but the bounce favours Courtois. This has been a very good response from Alguacil's side - they look good value for a goal.
There is a good intensity to Madrid's game - certainly more so than in recent weeks. This is considered an audition from pretty much every player in the side, and so far Diaz is the player to have done the most to impress his manager.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Sociedad are starting to build some serious pressure now. Oyarzabal gets his header all wrong but he tucks the ball home from a few yards out by sticking a leg out to convert Merino's shot. The goal is disallowed for offside but that appears to be a bad call.
There is real confusion around Anoeta as the referee needs a couple of minutes to determine whether the Oyarzabal goal was offside. The attacker looked to be onside when converting from a few yards out, but he may have been off in the first phase. For some reason we are not seeing a replay of the first phase.
And still the officials deliberate over this offside decision! It has been four minutes since the ball went into the back of the net. A replay has been shown of the first phase and Oyarzabal was offside, so this surely will not stand.
VAR CHECK OVER! Finally, after four minutes of reviewing Oyarzabal's goal, the officials stand by their original call. Real Madrid still lead 1-0.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 1-1 REAL MADRID (MIKEL MERINO)
Sociedad scored a deserved leveller through ex-Newcastle midfielder Merino. It was a brilliantly-worked goal - and a legal one this time - as Willian Jose flicked the ball around the back of the Madrid defence and Merino converted past Courtois.
Madrid have only really put together one serious attacking move, which culminated in Diaz giving them the lead. Since then the visitors have been second best and it is now all square in the Basque Country. Marcelo's shot in the box is blocked.
That Sociedad really was special - one-touch passing and a composed finish to round off the move. Madrid have seen a lot more of the ball since that goal. Isco is flagged for offside when attempting to chase down a long ball over the top.
SHOT! Benzema has a rare sight of goal. The Frenchman pulls the trigger from outside the box but he rather snatches at the shot and it ends wide of the far post, with Rulli watching it all the way. The visitors have had just 43% of the ball.
SAVE! A quick exchange of passes nearly catches out the Sociedad backline as Benzema tees up Isco, whose shot from 10 yards is saved by Rulli. That is a lot better from Madrid, who need a win if they are to have any hope of finishing second.
OFF THE LINE! As things stand Sociedad have dropped a place into ninth, seven points adrift of the top seven - this scoreline is not good enough for them. The hosts nearly grab a second as Carvajal heads Willian Jose's looping header off the line.
PENALTY! Disaster for Madrid. Vallejo sticks out his arm on the line to block Willian Jose's strike and a penalty is awarded to the hosts. To make matters worse for Zidane's men, a penalty is also awarded.
SAVE! COURTOIS SAVES THE PENALTY! Willian Jose goes for power and that proves the wrong choice as Courtois stays central and makes the save. What a huge opportunity missed for the home side, though they do have a one-man advantage.
YELLOW CARD! It looked for a moment as though the referee was going to send off Carvajal. The full-back fouls Barrenetxea and is shown a yellow card, and his sarcastic applause almost landed him in trouble. Madrid cannot afford to lose their heads this close to half time.
Madrid could do with half time because they look the side most at risk of conceding the next goal. Sociedad will be pleased with their efforts in this first half but they really should be 2-1 in front, having missed a penalty five minutes ago.
Three minutes have been added on at the end of the first half because of the VAR check a little earlier. A lot has happened since then, but it is looking as though we will go into half time with the sides lock at 1-1.
HALF TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 1-1 REAL MADRID
An eventful first half at Anoeta comes to a close with the sides level at 1-1. Diaz opened the scoring for Madrid six minutes in but Merino equalised 20 minutes later and the visitors then lost Vallejo to a straight red. Willian Jose missed the resulting penalty, though, so Los Blancos have been given a let off.
Brahim Diaz made the most of his latest audition by opening the scoring for Madrid six minutes in as he jinked past a couple of players and then had the composure to convert past Geronimo Rulli from an angle.
Sociedad responded well to that early setback, coming close through on-target attempts from Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal, the latter turning on the edge of the box and unleashing a powerful half-volley for Thibaut Courtois to deal with.
The hosts had a goal ruled out a quarter of the way into the match as, after more than four minutes of VAR checks, Oyarzabal was deemed to be offside in the first phase of play prior to converting at the back post.
Seconds after play resumed, Sociedad were back on level terms thanks to a well-worked goal that culminated in Willian Jose flicking the ball in behind for Merino to convert.
Isco had a shot from 12 yards kept out, but it was the home team who were looking the more positive as Willian Jose's header was cleared off the line by the head of Daniel Carvajal, before Jesus Vallejo did likewise, albeit with the use of his hand.
That led to the referee sending off the centre-back and awarding a penalty, which Willian Jose failed to convert - the forward's powerful shot being too central, allowing Courtois to keep hold of it.
BENCH WATCH!
REAL SOCIEDAD SUBS: Bautista, Rodrigues, Illarramendi, Miguel Angel Moya, Januzaj, Juanmi, Raul Navas
REAL MADRID SUBS: Modric, Valverde, Mariano, Vazquez, Vinicius Junior, Llorente
© Reuters
KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us back up and running at Anoeta. The visitors have 45 minutes to find a winner, but with 10 men they may consider a 1-1 draw a positive result.
Ex-Madrid defender Llorente misjudges the flight of the ball and it hits his back. Asensio is given the chance to carry the ball forward and get a shot away, but it is blocked inside the area. That was a decent opportunity for the Spanish attacker.
Willian Jose gets a header away but he is unable to find the target. Munoz has been very lively over the last couple of minutes - Sociedad clearly want a second goal and, on the basis of the previous 50 minutes, they look as though they will find it.
SAVE! Sociedad hit their opponents on the counter but some sloppy play from Willian Jose sees the attack break down. Zubeldia then tests Courtois with a curler that had the Belgian a little worried. It is end-to-end stuff at Anoeta!
Madrid are reluctant to sit back, leaving themselves open at the back. You have to respect Los Blancos for refusing to accept a draw, but a point would be better than none. At the moment, they are at risk of suffering another loss.
CLOSE! Barrenetxea tees up Merino for a shot from a couple of yards outside the box. The Sociedad goalscorer gets plenty of whip on his attempt but not enough to take it past Courtois at his near post. Los Blancos are struggling to hold off their opponents.
REAL MADRID SUB! Isco is replaced by Modric in a like-for-like midfield change. Zidane keeps the front three as they are for the time being but introduces some fresh legs in a deeper position.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 2-1 REAL MADRID (JOSEBA ZALDUA)
Zaldua completes the comeback for Sociedad with his first goal for the senior side! The full-back outjumped Marcelo and somehow looped his header over Courtois, who lost his footing and could only watch as the ball dropped over the line.
YELLOW CARD! That was poor all-round from Madrid - from Marcelo being outjumped to Courtois losing his footing. The visitors always risked falling behind as they were too keen on scoring a second goal of their own. Sociedad will fancy their chances of getting a third. Igor Zubeldia is shown a yellow for a sloppy challenge.
© Reuters
Sociedad are looking so much brighter than their opponents in the final third. It looked like Madrid were going to turn up today when Diaz put them in front five minutes in, but that has been far from the case. It is going to be another disappointing evening for Zidane.
Benzema is left in some space in a left-sided position and he drives the ball on target. Rulli gets a hand to it and there is enough pace on the ball to take it away from the Madrid players in the box. Zidane is about to make two more changes.
REAL MADRID SUB! Vazquez is on for goalscorer Diaz in Madrid's second change of the day. Vinicius Junior looks as though he will join the fray shortly.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 3-1 REAL MADRID (ANDER BARRENETXEA)
Sociedad kill off the contest by scoring a third goal! Oyarzabal gets between Carvajal and Marcelo to turn Munoz's cross against the frame of the goal. Barrenetxia was then well positioned to convert the rebound. Game over for Madrid, you feel!
Sociedad are bossing possession now, refusing to let their opponents touch the ball. It has been another hugely disappointing evening for Zidane's men - the Frenchman will be desperate to get next week's game out the way with so he can rebuild his squad.
YELLOW CARD! Casemiro is booked for barging into Willian Jose, purely out of frustration. That caution will cut short the midfielder's season as he is now suspended for Madrid's final match. The cynic in me thinks he knew what he was doing!
REAL MADRID SUB! Here comes the final Madrid sub, as Vinicius Junior comes on for Asensio in the forward line. Los Blancos need to score twice in 15 minutes with 10 men - it is simply not going to happen. Zidane's men have been poor - again.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB! The game is being constantly disrupted now. Illarramendi is introduced in place of Pardo for the final 15 minutes or so. Marcelo does well to cut the ball back but Vazquez miscues his effort from 10 yards.
PENALTY APPEAL! From that Vazquez miss, Sociedad attack and the ball is slipped through for Oyarzabal. Courtois takes out the Sociedad attacker, but replays show that he got plenty of the ball first before following through - that was good goalkeeping.
There will be some time added on at the end because Oyarzabal has just spent two minutes being patched up following that challenge from Courtois. Madrid have barely looked like scoring and they would probably accept the full-time whistle.
Time is fast running out for Madrid to respond. Sociedad are dropping off a bit now but that is mainly because they know how to handle Los Blancos' makeshift attacking trio. This has been a very good display from the home team.
OFF THE BAR! Madrid are stretched and nearly concede a fourth goal - only for the crossbar to come to their rescue. Substitute Januzaj is able to get a shot away in the box, sending a curler against the frame of the goal. Madrid need the full-time whistle.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB! Barrenetxea is replaced by Juanmi in the final change of the match. Carvajal concedes another free kick and he needs to be careful, having been shown a yellow card in the first half of the match.
There is just one minute of normal time to play and Sociedad are knocking the ball around with ease, each pass greeted with chances of "Ole!" from the home fans. Madrid gave up a long time ago - not just in terms of today but in terms of the season.
Sociedad have had 19 shots today - an incredible tally against the side that are, despite all their problems, third in the table. Three minutes have been added on here, the first of which we have already played.
FULL TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 3-1 REAL MADRID
Real Madrid fall to their 11th league defeat of the season as they let slip a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 to Real Sociedad. Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for the visitors, but Mikel Merino levelled up and then Joseba Zaldua and Ander Barrenetxea scored in the second half after Jesus Vallejo was sent off for a deliberate handball on the line.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Anoeta. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again next weekend as we bring you updates from the final round of La Liga matches. See you then!
