Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini declared himself happy with his side's latest victory, and added their pre-season preparations are going "according to plan". Back in Spain following their successful recent trip to North America, Los Merengues claimed their fifth win in seven friendlies under their new coach by downing Real Sociedad 2-0 in San Sebastian.

Karim Benzema and Wesley Sneijder struck the goals during the second half of a match in which Real started with six of their nine summer arrivals: Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay.

It was a very stop-start game, with some positive and negative things. The pre-season has gone according to how we planned.
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini following his team's 2-0 win over Real Sociedad

"I am happy because they (Sociedad) created very few chances on goal and our back four kept its structure when we moved back and forth and that's very important," said Pellegrini afterwards. "It was a very stop-start game, very intense in the first half, with some positive and negative things, as happens in pre-season games."

Real now have just two scheduled friendlies left before the start of La Liga in a fortnight's time, and although Pellegrini knows there is still work to do, he is happy with how things are developing. "The pre-season has gone according to how we planned," he said.

"This week has been somewhat special due to the arrival of our international players. It was important for them to integrate quickly in this game and they did it."

Real's two most expensive summer signings, Ronaldo and Kaka, were also happy with the run-out against Sociedad. The Brazilian missed the Peace Cup tournament last month due to an extended holiday following the FIFA Confederations Cup, and revealed his delight to the club's official website.

I feel very happy, not only for the victory but also because we played well. It's very easy to play in this team. Now we must work to be a more balanced side.
Kaka after Real Madrid's 2-0 reverse of Real Sociedad

"It was my first game in Spain with Real Madrid and I feel very happy, not only for the victory but also because we played well," he said. "It's very easy to play in this team. Now we must work to be a more balanced side."

Ronaldo added: "I felt good. In general we are all good and we are working hard to get to the form we want. It's still too soon, but I know that it will be easy for us to get there. It's important that we won the game, but we cannot forget our main objective, which is, little by little, to get closer to our ideal form."