Madrid had Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo suspended and Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos injured but after disappointing consecutive league draws they ended Sociedad's unbeaten start to the season and moved up to fourth place, cutting table-topping Barcelona's lead on them to four points. Real Sociedad are third, on nine points, one ahead of Madrid and one behind Sevilla, who beat Girona 1-0 away to move second. With Madrid weakened, the 20-year-old Mayoral rewarded Zinedine Zidane's faith in him by breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute.Real Madrid match Santos’ world record! ? pic.twitter.com/Qg9WQ6MVj9
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 17, 2017
The striker netted his first goal for the club with a poacher's finish after Sergio Ramos tried and failed to tee himself up for an overhead kick, having scored a similar goal against Apoel Nicosia on Wednesday. "I'm very happy for Borja Mayoral and Bale, they needed that," Real right-back Dani Carvajal told Movistar. "We have a big squad and Mayoral is capable of playing and performing at the highest level, as he showed in this game." Mayoral's strike extended Madrid's scoring streak, which began in April 2016 at Anoeta with a 1-0 win over Sociedad.Back on track ... Borja Mayoral & Gareth Bale on target as Real Madrid claim a 1st Liga win since 20 August, beating Sociedad 3-1. #UCL pic.twitter.com/0RsGPyuUAD
— #UCL (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2017
"You have to congratulate the players," said Zidane, who took over at Madrid in January 2016. "It's the players who are the protagonists. They're the ones that run, they're the ones that fight. It's 73 games but today the most important thing was to win."That feeling when you score your first official goal for #RealMadrid...
? @Mayoral_Borja ? pic.twitter.com/2sZoESja4v— Real Madrid C.F.?? (@realmadriden) September 17, 2017
Madrid's joy was short-lived as 10 minutes later Sociedad levelled when Alvaro Odriozola crossed for Rodrigues, whose shot squirmed past Keylor Navas, who should have kept it out. Seven minutes later Rodrigues scored again, this time diverting Mayoral's cross into his own net after a lightning break from Madrid, moments after he had struck Navas's crossbar in a near carbon copy of his first goal. Zidane asked for more from Bale ahead of the game after fans criticised his form and the Welshman delivered in the 61st minute, breaking through on to Isco's pass and crisply dinking the ball over the onrushing Rulli.? Zidane: "I'm happy he scored because he needed a goal... little by little we'll see Gareth Bale back to his best." #RealSociedadRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/3UnB3jCz8A
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) September 17, 2017
"It was a great goal but the most important thing was to get the goal for the team, to get the win and close the gap at the top," Bale told Movistar. "I have to keep my head down and keep working hard, that's all I can do." Las Palmas beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 with former Chelsea striker Loic Remy scoring his first goal for the club, while Villarreal thrashed bottom of the table Alaves 3-0 at Mendizorroza, leading to the Basque side sacking coach Luis Zubeldia.RESULTSAlaves 0 Villarreal 3 (Bakambu 32, 62, Bacca 52)Girona 0 Sevilla 1 (Muriel 69)Las Palmas 1 (Remy 87) Athletic Bilbao 0Real Sociedad 1 (Rodrigues 28) Real Madrid 3 (Mayoral 19, Rodrigues 36-og, Bale 61)Gareth Bale on Real Madrid fans' whistles: "It happens in football. I just keep my head down and keep working hard." https://t.co/3yhA7EiTLk pic.twitter.com/HtOlpiohaf
— Goal (@goal) September 18, 2017
? Barcelona move two points clear at the top of #LaLigaSantander. pic.twitter.com/rpzvXCMenu
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) September 17, 2017
