Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid: Bale header wins it for Los Blancos

Gareth Bale's ninth headed goal in La Liga this season helped Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 1-0 as they kept the pressure on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of the table. 

The Welshman's 20th goal of the campaign in all competitions arrived in the 80th minute and came courtesy of a Lucas Vazquez cross. 

Bale now has more goals with his head than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, while he's also scored more headers than 68 of the 98 teams in those leagues, too. 

With both teams missing several key players, Madrid, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, had the better of the first half. 

It was Bale who had the first chance, bobbling a tame effort wide with his right foot, before Geronimo Rulli denied James Rodriguez.

Madrid's best chances came from corners and crosses, though, with Sergio Ramos and Bale both heading wide. Bale then directed a James cross wide with his head, too. 

The home side were neat and tidy at times, but without Carlos Vela, Jonathas or Imanol Agirettxe, they lacked a punch when they did get into the final third. Joseba Zaldua blazed their best chance over. 

There were less chances after the break, but Bale appeared to waste his side's best one, firing straight at Rulli when the ball fell to him kindly six yards out. 

But he didn't make the same mistake later, heading home Lucas' cross to temporarily, at least, move Zinedine Zidane's side to the top of La Liga.