Intelligence the key to Real Madrid success, says Toshack

Real Sociedad coach John Toshack highlighted the quick-thinking of opponents Real Madrid as the key to the 3-1 victory at the Bernabeu which took them to the top of the Spanish first division on Saturday.

"Football requires intelligence and Real Madrid are one of the most intelligent teams around," Toshack told reporters after the game. "Real have got some very smart players and it showed in their second goal against us."

Sociedad, playing the sort of football that suggests they have the ability to claw their way out of the relegation zone, took the lead in the 39th minute after Dmitri Khokhlov added the finishing touch to a sweeping counter attack.

But just when the Basque side looked as though they would their lead into the halftime break Real saw themselves back on level terms after Norwegian defender Bjorn Tore Kvarme turned a harmless pass into his own net.

The crucial goal came 16 minutes after the break after some quick-thinking from Fernando Morientes.

The Real centre forward looped a quick throw-in to the ever-alert Raul who had nipped goalside of the Sociedad defence before threading the ball through the legs of defender Luiz Alberto and goalkeeper Alberto into the net.

"The second goal was a typical example of Real's intelligent play," said Toshack, who was Vicente del Bosque's predecessor as Real Madrid coach.

"Real Madrid are a great team who play some spectacular football and it is difficult to take any points from a match at the Bernabeu."

Real eventually ran out 3-1 winners to take their fifth league victory in a row after Luis Figo converted a spot kick after the impressive Zinedine Zidane was brought down in the area just over 10 mintes from the end.

"Being at the top of the table is a big stimulus for the players," said Del Bosque. "We hope to be at the top for many games to come."