Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he was pleased that "a difficult" week had ended "happily" with an "important win" as the La Liga leaders stretched their lead at the top with a 3-0 victory at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
A Bernabeu still hurting following Madrid's midweek Copa del Rey exit was calmed when Mateo Kovacic shot Madrid ahead before half-time from Cristiano Ronaldo's pass, and the Croatian then set up Ronaldo to make it 2-0 soon after the break.
After the visitors' Inigo Martinez picked up a second yellow card, Madrid wrapped up the scoring late on when substitute Alvaro Morata headed in after a lightning counter-attack.
The result, coupled with dropped points by Sevilla and Barcelona earlier on Sunday, leaves Madrid four points clear in the table, with a game in hand on their challengers.
Zidane told his postmatch news conference that his team had come through a tough time to play a complete game and end the week very happily.
"It is just a win, but an important win for us," Zidane said. "After some difficult days, we have returned to what we can do. It was a complete game against a difficult opponent, who made it tough for us. But we got the three points and kept a clean sheet. It is a good night for us, as our rivals either drew or lost."
Zidane said his team had been motivated watching as the weekend progressed and Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at Alaves, Barcelona drew 1-1 at Real Betis and Sevilla lost 3-1 at Espanyol.
"When you see your rivals dropping points, it gives you more motivation," he said. "We had talked about it. We saw the other games. The most important thing then is what we can do, and we can be happy with a clean sheet, three goals and three more points."
Ronaldo was one of the Madrid players whistled during the opening stages of the game, but he responded with a goal and assist ahead of his 32nd birthday next weekend.
"I don't believe they whistled Cristiano," Zidane claimed. "Today was to appreciate what the fans did. There can be some whistles, that can always happen and sometimes we can be a bit annoyed with that. But today the fans supported us from the start until the end. That is important, as the players need that. With everyone together we achieved something important."
The former Real Madrid player said he was particularly happy with how his team had dealt tactically with a Sociedad side who looked comfortable in possession but made few chances over the 90 minutes.
"Possession is not everything in football," he said. "You saw that in the first goal, a ball straight up to Cristiano and then a player arriving from deep like Mateo. We were happy with that as you like to see something you have prepared coming off. In the first half our pressing was not right, but we fixed it and did better in the second half. Sometimes it is necessary to play more on the break. They had more difficulties when we played with the block deeper."
Madrid's injury list should ease in the coming week with Luka Modric and James Rodriguez perhaps available for next weekend's trip to Celta Vigo, but there is no return date yet for Gareth Bale.
"Our idea is to have Luka back with us next week, but I cannot say when exactly," Zidane said. "The same with James. Gareth will need a bit longer, but he has his boots on now, out on the pitch, which is an important sign. We must go step by step, and be relaxed with him, and that is what we can do. I cannot give a period of time."