La Liga Roundup: Real Madrid overpowered by Valencia as Carlos Soler scores thrice from the spot; Other results

Valencia powered their way to annihilate reigning La Liga champions. Real Madrid, 4-1 on Sunday, benefiting from Carlos Soler’s hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Real took the lead after Karim Benzema found the back of the net with a sublime long-range effort before Soler struck an equaliser from a penalty that was retaken after the officials spotted an encroachment.

A Rafael Varane’s own goal made it 2-1 before Soler bagged his second goal of the night from a penalty awarded after Marcelo was controversially adjudged to have fouled Maxi Gomez.

Soler completed his hat-trick from the spot after Sergio Ramos was penalized for handling the ball in the box.

Zinedine Zidane’s team were aiming to move to within a point of table-toppers Real Sociedad heading into the international break, but they remain four points off the top after this heavy defeat, albeit with a game in hand.

Related: La Liga: Lionel Messi comes off the bench to rescue Barcelona; Atletico Madrid impressive

Zidane would be worried to have seen Benzema unable to finish the game after going off injured.

Real started the game on the front foot and there was no sign of what was to come when France forward Benzema fired the visitors into the lead with a fine strike from distance

Valencia equalised through a retaken penalty, which had been awarded after Lucas Vazquez handled the ball in the 18-yard area.

Soler saw his spot-kick saved by Thibaut Courtois and hit the post with the rebound. Team-mate Yunus Musah then poked the loose ball home, only for the goal to be ruled out after a video assistant referee (VAR) review showed him encroaching in the area. A retake was ordered and Soler converted from it 1-1.

Hosts Valencia, having managed only one attempt on target in the first half, went into half-time with the lead after defender Varane conceded a bizarre own goal.

Valencia went on to score two more from the spot. With Soler, 23, becoming only the third player in La Liga history to convert three spot-kicks in one game.

Real Sociedad 2-0 Granda: Fifth consecutive La Liga win for Sociedad

Real Sociedad beat an unusual Granada side 2-0 on Sunday, to return to the top of the La Liga Santander.

The visitors, who were ravaged by coronavirus, were forced to make nine changes from the team that got a 1-1 draw with Levante last week after efforts to get the game postponed was turned down by the authorities. Granada eventually went on with the game and started with five players aged 20 or under.

Granada’s makeshift side, however, started brightly but Sociedad’s Nacho Monreal put them in the lead midway through the first half, before a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty five minutes later doubled their advantage.

Willian Jose also had a spot-kick saved by Granada’s 18-year-old ‘keeper, Angel Jimenez, in the second half as Sociedad finished the game with 10 men.

Granada got a penalty call in their favour in added time but Darwin Machis fired straight at Alex Remiro who forced a beautiful save and the Basques celebrated a fifth consecutive La Liga victory.

La Liga Results: Sunday 8th November

Real Sociedad 2-0 Granada

Valencia 4-1 Real Madrid

Getafe 1-3 Villareal

Levante 1-1 Alaves

Real Valladolid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao