Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (center) vies for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastián, Spain, Sept 20, 2020. (ALVARO BARRIENTOS / AP)
SAN SEBASTIAN - Real Madrid had an underwhelming return to La Liga as they could only draw 0-0 away to Real Sociedad on Sunday in the first game of their title defense.
The champions looked rusty and particularly toothless up front, barely creating any chances of note in either half as Karim Benzema found little support in Brazilian teenage forwards Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
Despite a subdued start to his side’s title defence, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he was mostly pleased with their performance even though he stressed their need to be more creative in attack and more clinical
Sociedad looked more likely to score in either half, with Sweden forward Alexander Isak forcing Real keeper Thibaut Courtois to save with his feet before flashing a shot narrowly over the bar before halftime.
Lively winger Ander Barrenetxea was inches away from breaking the deadlock early in the second period but fired just wide of the far post.
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Benzema missed Real’s best chance of the first half when he lost his footing as he rounded goalkeeper Alex Remiro and later saw a goal-bound shot blocked by a dive from Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane stood by his decision to leave 60-million-euro (US$71 million) striker Luka Jovic on the bench as his side searched in vain for a goal in their 0-0 draw away to Real Sociedad in their first game of the La Liga season.
“It was difficult because we could have brought on another striker but that would have changed our shape and I didn’t want to do that, I wanted to improve our wing play by bringing on wide players and that’s what we did,” Zidane said.
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde (center) kicks the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastián, Spain, Sept 20, 2020. (ALVARO BARRIENTOS / AP)
Despite a subdued start to his side’s title defence, Zidane said he was mostly pleased with their performance even though he stressed their need to be more creative in attack and more clinical.
“We lacked a goal threat and a bit of clarity in attack, particularly in the second half, but we played well in the first 40 minutes and overall we should be happy with what we did,” he added.
Madrid keeper Courtois said he was pleased with his side’s performance all in all.
“We’re happy with how organized we were and how we didn’t allow them many chances but the problem was that we couldn’t score, we struggled to complete our final passes,” he said.
“We were looking strong even though it was our first game, we played with a high level of intensity although we found it more difficult in the second half but in general we can be happy with how our first game has gone.”
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Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane sends the ball back to Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastián, Spain, Sept 20, 2020. (ALVARO BARRIENTOS / AP)
Real spent their brief close season moving on a number of unwanted players such as Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon but the only new additions were returning loanees Martin Odegaard and defender Alvaro Odriozola.
Odegaard started against Sociedad, where he had a highly successful spell last season, but Real were unable to properly command the middle of the park without Casemiro, who started on the bench before coming on in the second half.
Substitute Marvin, 20, could have had a dream Madrid debut when a chance fell his way after coming on but failed to keep his composure.
Sociedad’s David Silva made his first La Liga appearance in a decade when he came on as a substitute in the second half.
