A depleted Real Madrid side, who were without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in attack and Toni Kroos and Marcelo ran out comfortable winners against Real Sociedad to equal goal-scoring record set by Pele’s Santos.

Pelé's Santos side set the record for scoring in 73 consecutive games between November 1961 and August 1963. Zinedine Zidane's men were shy of the goal record by just one game, having scored in 72 consecutive games in all competetions.

Zinedine Zidane’s men matched the record set by Pele’s legendary side in the same ground where they started their scoring streak – at the Anoeta on the 30th of April 2016, coincidentally with a Gareth Bale goal.

Misssing key players did not put a damper on Real Madrid’s performance as Borja Mayoral and Gareth Bale scored for the visitors and Sociedad defender Kevin Rodrigues scored at both ends.

With key full back Marcelo missing through suspension, Real Madrid must have been a little apprehensive to face Sociedad while already seven points behind Barcelona.

Madrid ended Sociedad’s own unbeaten start to the season while on their way to a record equaling victory.

Real Sociedad are third, on nine points, one ahead of Madrid and one behind Sevilla, who beat Girona 1-0 away to move second.

With Madrid weakened, the 20-year-old Mayoral rewarded Zinedine Zidane’s faith in him by breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute.

A poacher’s finish from the striker saw Madrid go ahead before Sociedad equalized with Rodrigues.

However, Rodrigues then turned one into his own net - charging back moments later to cut out Mayoral’s cross, only to divert it past Geronimo Rulli.

It was Gareth Bale – the man who had started the 73 game scoring streak with a goal at the very same ground, who latched onto a Isco pass and dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper Ruli to score Madrid’s third and final goal.

On their way to the record equalling victory, Madrid broke Barca's Spanish record of goals in 44 consecutive gamesand Bayern Munich's European record of scoring in 61 consecutive games.

During their scoring-run Real Madrid have won 54 times compared to Santos's 51 wins. However, Santos scored 45 more goals than the current Real Madrid during their streak.

Santos amassed an impressive tally of 245 goals, exceeding Madrid's 200. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 49 of these 200 goals.