La Liga Roundup: Real Madrid maintain perfect unbeaten start

By SABC Sport
18th September 2023

Real Madrid were forced to come from behind to continue their perfect start to the new La Liga season with a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Jude Bellingham was presented with the player of the month award for August before kick-off, but the Santiago Bernabeu went silent after five minutes when Ander Barrenetxea put Sociedad in front.

It remained 1-0 until half-time, but Carlo Ancelotti's men levelled immediately after the break with Federico Valverde side-footing home 40 seconds into the second half.

Madrid's winner arrived on the hour mark when Joselu headed home Fran Garcia's cross to earn the La Liga leaders a fifth consecutive win.

Earlier in the day, Mason Greenwood made his first appearance in 20 months and helped Getafe to a late 3-2 win over Osasuna.

Greenwood signed for Getafe on loan on transfer deadline day after Manchester United made the decision last month for the forward to continue his career away from Old Trafford after he was suspended by the club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

One-time England forward Greenwood faced charges which included attempted rape and assault, but after the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued, following the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light, he resumed his career in Madrid with a cameo in a five-goal thriller.

Introduced with 13 minutes left at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Greenwood's blocked shot forced a corner which resulted in Nemanja Maksimovic's 86th-minute winner after the Serbian headed home Carles Alena's cross.

It was later reported Greenwood received chants urging him to "die" by the visiting Osasuna supporters.

Europa League winners Sevilla claimed a first win of the new season after Dodi Lukebakio's 71st-minute effort earned them a 1-0 victory at home to Las Palmas.

Villarreal required a stoppage-time header to beat Almeria after former Crystal Palace forward Alexander Sorloth nodded home from close range in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Sergio Akieme had put Almeria ahead a minute before half-time, but Gerard Moreno levelled on the stroke of the interval before Sorloth headed in a last-gasp winner.