Vinicius dazzles after Madrid suffers Benzema blow
Vinicius Junior capped a dazzling display with a goal as Real Madrid claimed a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday (AEDT) to restore its eight-point cushion at the top of LaLiga.
Brazil forward Vinicius opened the scoring two minutes after half-time after a fine piece of individual skill and some neat interplay with Luka Jovic.
It made the 21-year-old the first player born in 2000 or later to reach double figures for goals in a single LaLiga season.
Jovic added a second with his first goal of the season when he bravely headed in from close range.
Madrid is comfortably ahead of second-placed Sevilla and has a 10-point advantage over defending champion Atletico Madrid, which is languishing in fourth place after a shock home defeat against Real Mallorca earlier in the day.
Sociedad began with intent, although Madrid had the best early chance when Vinicius saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Alex Remiro.
Shortly afterwards Alexander Isak got his head on the end of Diego Rico's teasing delivery but Eder Militao was well positioned to clear the danger.
Madrid was dealt a blow in the 17th minute when striker and captain Karim Benzema limped out clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Jovic.
Isak fired wide from a good position before the break while the lively Vinicius and Rodrygo were both kept at bay by Sociedad goalkeeper Remiro.
Vinicius looked Madrid's most likely source of a goal and delivered moments after half-time when he jinked in from the left flank, exchanged passes with Jovic, and struck a low shot into the left corner.
Jovic reacted quickest to nod in Casemiro's knockdown in the box from a Toni Kroos corner 10 minutes later to increase Madrid's advantage.
Sociedad found it difficult to break down Carlo Ancelotti's side in the remainder of the game as Madrid chalked up its seventh league away win of the season.
