Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Saturday, with both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe finding the net from the penalty spot. This win propels the Spanish champions to within a point of league leaders Barcelona, setting the stage for an intriguing La Liga race. Barcelona are set to face Girona on Sunday, a fixture that could further shake up the standings.
Despite the final scoreline, Real Sociedad gave a spirited performance, hitting the woodwork three times in what was an end-to-end encounter. Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the challenges his side faced, noting, “It was a tough game, probably we didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad played very well… but we bore it out, we suffered, we were committed in the tough moments of the game and I value that a lot.” Ancelotti praised his team’s sacrifice and commitment, emphasizing that such qualities are not always present in a team with so much talent.
The Italian manager was forced to navigate this fixture without key midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni, both sidelined due to injury. Ancelotti also made the tactical decision to bench Rodrygo Goes, opting instead to start Brahim Diaz. This decision highlighted the depth of Madrid’s squad, but it also underscored the challenges Ancelotti faced in maintaining a balanced side in the absence of some of his regular starters.
All eyes were on Kylian Mbappe, the French forward who has been the center of attention since his move to Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain. Having scored twice in his previous La Liga outing, Mbappe was eager to add to his tally. Early on, he showcased his skill and speed, forcing Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper Alex Remiro into a smart save and threatening the defense with a surging run that was only halted by last-ditch tackling.
Real Sociedad demonstrated their attacking prowess as well, with new arrival Luka Sucic unleashing a powerful strike from distance that rattled the crossbar. This was the first of three instances where the hosts struck the woodwork, a sign of their misfortune and a reminder of how fine the margins can be in football. Ancelotti’s hand was forced when Brahim Diaz suffered an injury, prompting the introduction of Rodrygo. The Brazilian forward’s presence injected fresh energy into Madrid’s attack, and they soon came close through a header by Antonio Rudiger, which was expertly saved by Remiro, and another effort by Mbappe that narrowly missed the target.
Real Sociedad continued to threaten, with forward Sheraldo Becker hitting the bar, adding to the mounting frustration for the home side and their fans. The Basque club came agonizingly close to taking the lead on multiple occasions but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and Madrid’s defensive resilience.
The turning point came in the second half when Real Sociedad’s luck finally ran out. Madrid was awarded a penalty in the 58th minute after Sergio Gomez handled a drive from Arda Guler inside the box. Vinicius Junior stepped up confidently to take the spot-kick, converting it to give Madrid the lead. This goal shifted the momentum in Madrid’s favor, and it wasn’t long before they doubled their advantage.
Mbappe, having been relatively quiet in terms of goal-scoring opportunities, had his moment shortly after Vinicius’ opener. Madrid was awarded a second penalty after Jon Aramburu stood on Vinicius’ foot in the area. Mbappe took responsibility for the spot-kick, sending Remiro the wrong way to secure the victory for Madrid. This goal brought his tally to three goals in five La Liga matches for Madrid, with two of those coming from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid saw out the remaining 15 minutes without much trouble, managing the game effectively to secure all three points. This victory was crucial, not only for the points but also as a confidence booster ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash against Stuttgart. Mbappe’s growing partnership with Vinicius is beginning to show promise, with both players offering significant threat to opposing defenses. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois commented on their partnership, stating, “They are linking well, creating a lot of danger. In open play they’re lacking goals a bit, but with them we have a lot of danger up front and we will score a lot of goals. Today it was from the penalty spot, but they count too.”
This match also marked an extension of Real Madrid’s remarkable unbeaten run in La Liga. Los Blancos have not tasted defeat in the league since September 2023, going 37 matches without a loss. This consistency is a testament to Ancelotti’s management and the team’s ability to grind out results, even in challenging circumstances.
On the other hand, Real Sociedad has had a less fortunate start to their season, managing just one win from five games. Despite this, their performance against Madrid was commendable. Midfielder Igor Zubeldia reflected on the match, saying, “We had a great first half, we had a lot of chances, the game was alive. In the second half we started well but the penalty was a tough blow… we were comfortable, it changed the whole game for us.”
Real Madrid take home the three points and prepare for champions league fixture on Wednesday against Stuttgart as they begin to retain their title.
