Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty before scoring twice as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad to ease the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.
Ronaldo fired over from the spot on 23 minutes after Sociedad's Yuri was adjudged to have fouled Karim Benzema.
The Portuguese blasted home a second penalty after Yuri handled, but Sociedad substitute Bruma equalised with a fine, angled finish.
Ronaldo's volley made it 2-1 before Lucas Vazquez completed the scoring.
Substitute Vazquez turned Gareth Bale's low cross under Geronimo Rulli to temporarily put his team top of La Liga.
Benitez was booed when his name was read out before kick-off, and again when he replaced James Rodriguez with Mateo Kovacic.
The former Liverpool manager was only appointed in June but three defeats in the previous six league games had put him under pressure.
However, victory in their final game of a disappointing 2015 moved Real Madrid a point ahead of title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who both play later.
Benitez's men start 2016 away to Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday.
Sociedad, meanwhile, end the year without a win in three league games.
Real Madrid have scored 17 goals in their past three home games in La Liga
Real Sociedad remain in trouble near the bottom of the La Liga table
Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)
Real Madrid
- 01 Navas
- 23 Danilo
- 03 Pepe
- 06 Nacho Booked
- 12 Marcelo
- 19 Modric (Casemiro - 88' )
- 08 Kroos
- 10 Rodríguez (Kovacic - 59' )
- 11 Bale
- 09 Benzema (Vázquez - 76' )
- 07 Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 02 Varane
- 13 Casilla
- 14 Casemiro
- 16 Kovacic
- 18 Vázquez
- 20 Jesé
- 22 Isco
Real Sociedad
- 01 Rulli
- 02 Martínez Booked
- 30 Elustondo
- 06 Iñigo Martínez
- 19 Berchiche Izeta Booked
- 05 Bergara
- 04 Illarramendi Booked
- 10 Xabi Prieto
- 16 Canales (Rubén Pardo - 45' )
- 09 Agirretxe (Na Bangna - 18' )
- 22 Cristian de Jesus Booked (Vela - 68' )
Substitutes
- 07 Na Bangna
- 11 Vela
- 13 Olazábal Paredes
- 14 Rubén Pardo
- 21 Hernández Ortega
- 23 Reyes
- 24 De la Bella
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1.
90:00 +3:01 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1.
90:00 +0:49Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
90:00 +0:02Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +0:02Foul by Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad).
89:50Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89:50Foul by Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad).
88:48Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iñigo Martínez.
87:02 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Casemiro replaces Luka Modric.
85:55 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Real Madrid 3, Real Sociedad 1. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gareth Bale with a cross following a fast break.
83:34Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcelo.
82:33Aritz Elustondo (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:33Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
80:57Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Pepe.
80:55Attempt blocked. Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Carlos Vela.
77:00Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Martínez.
76:40Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
76:40Foul by Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad).
75:44 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Karim Benzema.
74:38Attempt missed. Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Bruma (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
71:42Attempt missed. Yuri (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
71:01Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
71:01Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:32Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.
70:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
69:20Delay in match Aritz Elustondo (Real Sociedad) because of an injury.
69:06Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Gerónimo Rulli.
69:03Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Danilo.
67:56 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Sociedad. Carlos Vela replaces Jonathas.
66:57 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Real Madrid 2, Real Sociedad 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross following a corner.
66:33Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Martínez.
65:33Foul by Luka Modric (Real Madrid).
65:33Markel Bergara (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
64:39Foul by Marcelo (Real Madrid).
64:39Carlos Martínez (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64:18Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Bale with a cross.
61:06 BookingBooking Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
61:00Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
61:00Foul by Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad).
60:27Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic with a cross.
58:31 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Madrid. Mateo Kovacic replaces James Rodríguez.
57:53Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
57:53Jonathas (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57:36Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Gerónimo Rulli.
57:33Attempt saved. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Rodríguez.
55:45 BookingBooking Nacho (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
55:38Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
55:38Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick on the right wing.
53:23Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53:23Foul by Yuri (Real Sociedad).
52:53Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
52:38Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Martínez.
50:13Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross.
48:10 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Real Madrid 1, Real Sociedad 1. Bruma (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jonathas.
47:49Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
47:49Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:22Attempt missed. Rubén Pardo (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
46:29Foul by Luka Modric (Real Madrid).
46:29Jonathas (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
45:00Second Half begins Real Madrid 1, Real Sociedad 0.
45:00 +2:07 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Real Sociedad 0.
45:00 +0:37Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iñigo Martínez.
44:50 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Sociedad. Rubén Pardo replaces Sergio Canales because of an injury.
44:44Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by James Rodríguez.
41:44 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Real Madrid 1, Real Sociedad 0. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
41:20Delay over. They are ready to continue.
40:17Delay in match Sergio Canales (Real Sociedad) because of an injury.
39:40 BookingBooking Carlos Martínez (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card.
39:28Penalty conceded by Yuri (Real Sociedad) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
37:21Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
36:01Attempt saved. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
34:46Attempt missed. Jonathas (Real Sociedad) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Yuri with a cross.
34:01Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
34:01Markel Bergara (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:39Attempt missed. Sergio Canales (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jonathas.
31:40 BookingBooking Yuri (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
31:31Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
31:31Foul by Yuri (Real Sociedad).
30:37Attempt blocked. Pepe (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a cross.
30:06Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iñigo Martínez.
28:58Attempt missed. Jonathas (Real Sociedad) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Xabi Prieto with a cross.
27:37Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
27:37Sergio Canales (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick on the left wing.
25:44Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
24:56Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Asier Illarramendi.
24:15Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
24:15Jonathas (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:12Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot is just a bit too high. Cristiano Ronaldo should be disappointed.
22:15Penalty Real Madrid. Karim Benzema draws a foul in the penalty area.
22:15Penalty conceded by Yuri (Real Sociedad) after a foul in the penalty area.
20:53Attempt saved. Jonathas (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Iñigo Martínez.
19:32Offside, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
18:25Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Aritz Elustondo.
17:53Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Martínez.
17:10 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Real Sociedad. Bruma replaces Imanol Agirretxe because of an injury.
15:52Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Rodríguez.
14:49Delay over. They are ready to continue.
13:25Delay in match Imanol Agirretxe (Real Sociedad) because of an injury.
11:02Attempt missed. Iñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergio Canales with a cross following a corner.
10:32Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Pepe.
10:30Attempt blocked. Yuri (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
8:24Foul by Gareth Bale (Real Madrid).
8:24Yuri (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7:41Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
7:19Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
6:01Danilo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
6:01Foul by Jonathas (Real Sociedad).
4:44Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a cross following a corner.
4:30Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Gerónimo Rulli.
4:28Attempt saved. Pepe (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a cross.
4:06Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iñigo Martínez.
2:50Offside, Real Sociedad. Jonathas tries a through ball, but Imanol Agirretxe is caught offside.
1:15Attempt missed. Sergio Canales (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jonathas.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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