Football
PA Sport 10y

Barcelona hold on for a hard-fought win, Real Madrid lose stunner

European champions Real Madrid surrendered a two-goal lead as they crashed to a shock 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad in the second round of the Primera Division season.

Madrid, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo, had looked set to sweep Sociedad aside as they struck twice inside the opening 11 minutes through Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale while in between also hitting the woodwork through the Spain defender.

The visitors also had a number of other chances to increase their lead before Sociedad staged a stunning comeback that saw them snatch the victory through goals from Inigo Martinez (36'), David Zurutuza (41' and 65') and Carlos Vela (76').

That earned Sociedad their first points of the new season and came at the end of a week which saw them beaten by top-flight newcomers Eibar and knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday by Krasnodar.

It was Madrid's first league loss, having limped past Cordoba at the Bernabeu in their opening match, and leaves them three points behind Barcelona after their arch rivals topped Villarreal 1-0 on Sunday.

Sandro, a 19-year-old academy graduate, climbed off the bench to net an 82nd-minute winner at El Madrigal, the youngster tapped in a cross from Lionel Messi for his first senior goal.

A former Barca player helped Deportivo La Coruna pick up their first point as Isaac Cuenca kept his cool to slot home a stoppage-time penalty and salvage a 2-2 draw for his new side at home to Rayo Vallecano.

- Ledwith: Hard-fought win for Barcelona
- Enrique hails Barcelona spirit after win
- Ancelotti says Real Madrid lost focus

Depor were beaten 2-1 in their season-opener at Granada last weekend after losing an early lead and it looked set to be an identical story on Sunday as Alberto Bueno's brace for Rayo cancelled out Jose Rodriguez's opener for the hosts.

However, with three minutes of added time almost up, Depor won a penalty when Abdoulaye Ba handled in the box and Cuenca, who left Barca this summer by mutual consent, stepped up to help the promoted side get their campaign up and running.

There was also a last-gasp equaliser in Sunday's other match as Elche snatched a point at home to Granada in a 1-1 draw.

Granada had looked set to make it two wins from two when they took an 82nd-minute lead through Fran Rico but David Lomban's stoppage-time leveller saw the spoils shared.

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