Kylian Mbappe produced a stunning performance as Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, August 26, scoring a hat trick to give Jose Mourinho a winning return in his first home game back at the stadium.
The French forward had entered the game without a goal in Real Madrid's opening La Liga match, but quickly made up for it with a clinical display. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a powerful left-footed finish after a move involving Federico Valverde.
Real Sociedad responded almost immediately. Luka Sucic equalised four minutes later, taking advantage of a loose ball in the Madrid penalty area. The hosts looked unsettled during the opening period, with some supporters at the Bernabeu expressing their frustration as Real struggled with their passing and looked vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Mourinho's side returned from the break with a completely different approach. Madrid became more aggressive and dangerous in attack, with Mbappe at the centre of their improvement.
Mbappe restored Real Madrid's lead in the 60th minute after combining brilliantly with Jude Bellingham. The England midfielder played an important role throughout the match and finished the night with two assists.
Vinicius Junior then extended Madrid's advantage in the 68th minute, converting from close range after another Bellingham assist. With Real Sociedad struggling to contain the home side, Mbappe completed his hat trick in the 80th minute with a composed chipped finish over the goalkeeper.
The victory gave Real Madrid two wins from two at the beginning of the La Liga campaign and provided Mourinho with an impressive homecoming. It was his first competitive home match at the Bernabeu since returning to the club more than 13 years after his previous spell in charge ended.
For Mbappe, the match was another reminder of his importance to Madrid's attack. The hat trick took his Real Madrid tally to 89 goals in 105 appearances, according to ESPN, while also marking his sixth hat trick for the Spanish giants.
The result also highlighted Madrid's ability to respond under pressure. After an uneven first half, the team returned with greater intensity and efficiency, turning a difficult contest into a comfortable victory.
With Mbappe finding his scoring touch and Bellingham and Vinicius also making major contributions, Real Madrid have made a strong start under Mourinho. The performance against Sociedad will give the club confidence as they continue their pursuit of domestic success this season.
Reader Comments 0