Real Madrid lost further ground to Barcelona in the La Liga title race after being held to a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Having seen their Copa del Rey clash in midweek go into extra time, a leggy Real Madrid could perhaps be forgiven for starting slowly, though they do have the misfortunes of Alexander Sørloth to thank for not falling behind inside five minutes, as his complete airshot with the goal at his mercy let Real off the hook.
This game could perhaps have been better likened to basketball at times, with both sides going hell for leather in search of an opener, but Vinícius Júnior and Asier Illarramendi hadn’t quite tuned in their radars as they both flashed efforts inches wide of the target.
Despite being goalless at the break, the first half was a real humdinger, and though the hosts perhaps just shaded it, beating Álex Remiro was proving problematic, as Toni Kroos found out on the stroke of HT.
Vinícius was next in a long line of Real players to try their luck, but he again was greeted by Remiro, who was proving an immovable object in the Sociedad goal.
