Liga: Real Madrid escapes Real Sociedad trap

A home win against Betis thanks to a double from Kylian Mbappé. It was on this positive note that Real Madrid left us before the international break. This Saturday, the capital club made its return to La Liga with a perilous trip to the Real Sociedad pitch. Faced with a Basque side that is always difficult to maneuver, Carlo Ancelotti decided to innovate with a 4-4-2 diamond formation featuring Arda Güler, Luka Modrić, Brahim Díaz, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. However, despite this resolutely attacking eleven, Federico Valverde’s teammates encountered several difficulties in the first half.

Pushed around in the duels against the Anoeta residents who had a complicated start to the season (1 win, 1 draw, 2 losses), the Madrid players were scared in the first half. Right from the start, Thibaut Courtois was called upon on a big strike from Sergio Gomez (3rd). And despite the arabesques of a Kylian Mbappé in good shape (18th), Real did not show great serenity and the exit due to injury of Brahim Diaz did not improve anything. Subsequently, the Basque offensive attempts were thwarted by Courtois’s posts, like the mine of Sucic (25th) and the well-felt attempt of Umar Sadiq (36th). Timid, Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned, slightly miraculously, with a blank score at half-time.

Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé shone…on penalties

After the break, Sociedad’s bad luck with the woodwork continued and the unfortunate Sucic, this time, found the right post of Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper (47th). Yet another snub from fate that turned the tide in favor of an increasingly solid White House. After Eder Militao’s attempt (53rd), Real Madrid inherited a deserved penalty after Sergio Gomez tried to turn into a goalkeeper for an attempt by Güler. Madrid’s designated penalty taker, Vinícius Júnior was quick to beat Remiro to open the scoring (0-1, 57th). Having emerged from the mess, the reigning Spanish champions continued to accelerate.

A welcome initiative that paid off. Despite the slight Basque rebellion, Real Madrid were rewarded by forcing Imanol Alguacil’s men into making another mistake. Late, Jon Arambaru got carried away and mowed down Vinicius. Kylian Mbappé grabbed the ball and gave his team the lead (0-2, 74th minute). His fourth goal in six games. A second goal that meant victory for the Merengues, who left San Sebastian with the three points that allowed them to move up to second place. A painful victory but one that will allow them to calmly face their first Champions League match of the season this Tuesday against Stuttgart (9 p.m.). Sociedad is marking time and remains 15th.