SAN SEBASTIAN / BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappé once again proved why he is Real Madrid’s marquee signing as his brilliance led the Spanish giants to a gritty 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad in La Liga. Despite being reduced to ten men for more than half the game, Los Blancos held firm to secure all three points and maintain their flawless start to the season.
The French superstar opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to slot calmly past goalkeeper Álex Remiro. His electric pace and sharp movement kept Sociedad’s backline on edge throughout the first half. Just before the break, Mbappé’s creative play carved out another opening, setting up Arda Güler who doubled the lead with a fine finish.
The match, however, turned tense when defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card for hauling down Mikel Oyarzabal. The decision sparked debate, with Real manager Xabi Alonso visibly frustrated on the sidelines. Sociedad seized the momentum in the second half, as Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Dani Carvajal was judged to have handled the ball.
With the scoreline narrowed, Real Madrid were forced into a defensive stance. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois rose to the occasion with a series of crucial saves, ensuring the visitors held on despite relentless pressure from the Basque side.
The victory keeps Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga with 12 points from four matches, underlining their determination to dominate early in the season. Athletic Bilbao remain their closest challengers, but with Mbappé firing on all cylinders, Madrid look unstoppable.
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