Liga Report: Real Whipped At The Bernabeu

Real Sociedad ensured that Real Madrid finished in a lowly fourth place with a 4-1 win at the Bernabeu.

Darko Kovacevic headed the visitors infront, with Prieto and De Paula making it 3-0. Luis Figo reduced the arrears from the spot, but a second-half penalty from Prieto completed a four-star performance from the Basques.

This was a Real side severely weakened by suspension, with Michel Salgado, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Guti all missing.

Raul forced Sander Westerveld into a good near-post save early on, but Sociedad were ahead after 13 minutes when Kovacevic rose above Caesar and Francisco Pavon to head in a fine right-wing cross from Prieto.

After Raul had headed a Figo cross well over, Sociedad took a two-goal lead when Borja failed to clear and the impressive Prieto blasted home an unstoppable first-time effort from the edge of the box. A stunning goal.

Kovacevic shot wide after finding himself on side, but the third goal was not long in coming as De Paula rose to head in a Lopez Rekarte right-wing cross.

Real were back in the hunt on 38 minutes when Potillon fouled Ronaldo in the box. Luis Figo beat Westerveld from the spot.

Caesar had to be on his mettle at the other end when he tipped over a Kovacevic header.

Real rarely looked like scoring, and things didn't improve in the second-half.

Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for hand-ball, but after Caesar had made a super close-range stop from Kovacevic, Sociedad made it four. Figo brought down Aranzabal in the area, and Prieto chipped home the resulting penalty.

This match again served to demonstrate that Real must perform major surgery on their squad in the coming months if they wish to return to former glories. They've already signed Walter Samuel, and could a new coach be arriving in the shape of Jose Camacho this week? Time will tell.