Kylian Mbappe delivered a standout performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to power Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The match marked Jose Mourinho’s first home appearance as head coach since his return to the club, with the team securing their second consecutive win of the La Liga season.
Mourinho opted to field the same starting lineup that secured a narrow 2-1 win against Espanyol last Saturday. The manager had previously noted the challenge of balancing the team’s star power, but the performance against La Real suggested his tactical approach is yielding results. Jude Bellingham proved instrumental in the attack, providing two assists as the team’s key players combined effectively.
The game began with an open rhythm, featuring early attempts from Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, while Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save to deny Mikel Oyarzabal at the other end. Real Sociedad’s Sergio Gomez also threatened with a volley that narrowly missed the post. The deadlock was finally broken five minutes before half-time when Federico Valverde set up Mbappe, who skillfully evaded his marker to fire the ball into the top corner.
Despite the lead, Madrid conceded an equaliser before the interval. After a scramble in the box involving Job Ochieng, the ball fell to Luka Sucic, who scored with a deflection off Alvaro Carreras. However, Madrid regained control in the second half. Following an early chance created by Arda Guler, Mbappe restored the lead by calmly stroking home a pass from Bellingham, who had been set up by Valverde.
The hosts extended their advantage through Vinicius Junior. After an initial shot from Bellingham was blocked, the midfielder reclaimed possession and teed up the Brazilian for a simple tap-in. The scoring concluded with a third goal from Mbappe, who executed a delicate dink over goalkeeper Alex Remiro following a perfectly weighted assist from Vinicius.
Vinicius, who appeared in high spirits throughout the match, was substituted for record signing Yan Diomande with seven minutes remaining, sharing a moment with Mourinho as he left the pitch. This positive display marked a contrast to the previous season, when the forward had shown frustration after being replaced by Xabi Alonso during a Clasico win against Barcelona in October. Vinicius recently extended his contract with the club until 2032.
Looking ahead, Spanish champions Barcelona are scheduled to host Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, with new arrival Rodri expected to make his debut from the bench for Hansi Flick’s side. The report also notes that and this match suggested he is on the right track, mourinho had said it would be tricky but not impossible to get the team’s three biggest names all at their best. The report also notes that however, Los Blancos could not survive to the break without conceding the equaliser against last season’s Copa del Rey winners.
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