MADRID, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Real Sociedad midfielder, Xabi Prieto scored a hat-trick for his side in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium but still saw his side came away empty-handed following a 4-3 defeat away to Real Madrid.
The game was marked by the expectation over who would be chosen as first choice keeper for Real Madrid after Antonio Adan had replaced Iker Casillas in the last game of 2012.
Jose Mourinho again showed his faith in Adan, but the usual substitute keeper didn't last long on the pitch: After Karim Benzema had put Madrid ahead after two minutes, Adan was sent off four minutes later for bringing down Real Sociedad's Carlos Vela in the penalty area meaning Casillas had to come into the game with Javier Callejon substituted.
Prieto then sent Casillas the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 1-1.
Madrid worked hard with a player less and were rewarded when Sami Khedira put them back in front flicking home a shot from Ricardo Carvalho after 35 minutes.
Prieto netted his second of the afternoon five minutes later with a smart finish after a Vela shot had deflected into his path, although there was still time for Benzema to hit the visitors' post before the break.
Cristiano Ronaldo was booked in the first half, which means he is suspended for next week's trip to play Osasuna, but he was to be decisive in the second half, scoring twice to put his side 4-2 up.
The first goal came after 68 minutes when he latched onto a pass from the impressive Benzema to beat Real Sociedad keeper, Claudio Bravo with a clinical finish and the second arrived with 20 minutes remaining when Bravo showed soft hands and could only touch a free kick that was hit straight at him into the top of his own net.
Prieto finished his hat-trick with a quarter of an hour remaining when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to again beat Casillas, but when the referee harshly sent of Dani Estrada for a second yellow card, there was little the visitors could do and Real Madrid hung on for the points, although they were far from convincing.