Zinedine Zidane 'annoyed' as Real Madrid replace Barcelona atop La Liga after win at Real Sociedad

Frenchman was forced to defend his team after three key refereeing decisions went their way at Reale Arena on Sunday

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. AFP

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema shoots to score his side's second goal. Reuters

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in action with Real Sociedad's Andoni Gorosabel. Reuters

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane with his players during the drinks break. Reuters

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane gestures from the touchline. AFP

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Real Madrid's Marcelo on the ball as Real Sociedad's Portu tries to track him down. Reuters

General view inside the stadium before the match. Reuters

Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino (C) celebrates after scoring. AFP

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde vies with Real Sociedad defender Nacho Monreal. AFP

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos with Real Sociedad's Robin Le Normand after the match. Reuters

Real Madrid's Marco Asensio with Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino after the match. Reuters

Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz shoots at goal. Reuters

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was left "annoyed" at persistent questions over refereeing decisions after his side moved top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad that featured some contentious calls.

In the build-up to the game, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique had claimed that too many decisions were going Madrid's way after their 3-0 win over Valencia, in which Rodrigo Moreno had an opening goal ruled out.

Zidane was forced to defend his team then and the Frenchman did so again following the victory at Reale Arena, which featured three key decisions that all favoured Madrid.

"It annoys me that at the end of the day people are only talking about the referees as if we did nothing out on the pitch," Zidane told a virtual news conference.

"But we cannot control what people will say. We win matches on the pitch and that's what we did today. It was a deserved victory."

Sergio Ramos scored the opening goal just after the break with a penalty after a dubious foul on Vinicius Jr, while Sociedad had an Adnan Januzaj strike ruled out for a positional offside against Mikel Merino.

Karim Benzema then doubled Madrid's advantage in the 70th minute after controlling a cross with the top of his arm, the goal being awarded following a VAR review.

"I didn't see the plays but I've been told the penalty decision was correct and that Benzema's goal was legal," Zidane said. "I don't get involved in controversies because that's the referee's job. I just want to think about our deserved victory.

"I would prefer to talk about football and the match, I can't say anything else about the other things."

Merino, who pulled one back for Sociedad in the 83rd minute, was highly critical of the decisions, particularly the one to disallow Januzaj's goal.

"We're angry with everything but mainly with the way we lost, because the little details and the big moments went against us," the 24-year-old Spanish midfielder said.

"I was at least five metres from Courtois when I was flagged offside. I don't know if the same thing would have happened had it been in the other area but the flag went up and we feel that we have been wronged."

Having won all three matches since the season re-started after the hiatus caused by the new coronavirus, Real now lead the title race due to a superior head-to-head record over Barcelona, who were held to a goalless draw at Sevilla, but Zidane said there was still a long way to go.

"We haven't achieved anything yet even though we've got nine points from nine," he said with another eight rounds of Liga matches remaining.

"It's going to be difficult right until the end. We always want more and you have to recognise how great our attitude was today. We saw a team that always wanted to win."