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The La Liga encounter between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad ended in a convincing 4-1 victory for the hosts, a result that sent Madrid to the top of the table provisionally. Missing talisman Kylian Mbappé from the starting lineup, Madrid nonetheless produced a confident team display with Vinicius Jr converting two penalties and captain Fede Valverde adding a composed finish.
The clash also featured a handful of notable moments: an early opener from Gonzalo García, multiple spot-kicks, a returning defender’s appearance, and a late disallowed effort that would have capped a dominant evening. Beyond the Santiago Bernabéu result, the day’s La Liga action included a dramatic draw for Celta Vigo at Espanyol and a few upset results in other fixtures.
How the goals came: penalties and a captain’s strike
The scoring began early when Gonzalo García diverted a cross into the net following a well-timed delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold, giving Madrid the initiative within minutes. The balance shifted later in the first half after a sequence of fouls produced two spot-kicks. A foul on Yangel Herrera handed Real Sociedad a chance that Mikel Oyarzabal calmly dispatched from 12 yards.
Shortly after, referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso pointed to the spot again when Jon Aramburu clipped Vinicius Jr, and the Brazilian stepped up to make it 2-1. Before the half concluded Fede Valverde found space on the edge of the area and drilled Madrid’s third goal, marking his first goal of the season and rewarding the team’s pressure.
Vinicius seals the win
In the second half, Madrid earned another penalty when Aramburu was penalised once more for a challenge on Vinicius, and the forward converted to extend the lead to 4-1. The two spot-kicks underlined Vinicius’s composure from the spot and his importance to Madrid’s attacking output, even with other stars unavailable.
Missing stars, squad depth and returns
Although Kylian Mbappé was listed among the substitutes after registering some discomfort in his left knee during the week, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa chose not to risk his forward. Another high-profile absence, Jude Bellingham, remained sidelined with a hamstring problem. Their presence on the bench highlighted the depth of Madrid’s roster and the team’s ability to perform when key names are absent.
A positive development came when veteran full-back Dani Carvajal re-entered league action around the hour mark, replacing Alexander-Arnold and making his first top-flight appearance since the defeat to Barcelona months earlier. His return reinforced Madrid’s defensive options ahead of upcoming Champions League and domestic fixtures.
Disallowed goal and match control
Late in the game, Vinicius thought he had completed a hat-trick by heading home from a free-kick, but the effort was ruled out after an offside call following a VAR review. The sequence illustrated how marginal decisions can shape final margins, even in matches that end with a clear winner.
The wider la liga picture: drama elsewhere
Across other fixtures, the weekend produced its own twists. At Espanyol, Celta Vigo stalwart Borja Iglesias endured mixed emotions: a goal was chalked off after a long VAR check for offside, only for him to salvage a point in stoppage time. Iglesias reacted to the rollercoaster with a rueful smile before capitalising on a late chance created by Pablo Durán to secure a 2-2 draw.
Elsewhere, Getafe stunned visiting Villarreal with a 2-1 result, while Sevilla and Alavés played out a 1-1 tie despite Sevilla finishing with ten men. The Sevilla match was further marred by disciplinary issues: a midfielder was sent off in the first quarter of an hour and emotions boiled over on the touchline with the coach dismissed late in the contest. These outcomes keep the middle and lower parts of the table tightly contested.
What this means for real madrid
The victory handed Real Madrid an immediate advantage at the summit of La Liga, moving them two points ahead of Barcelona ahead of the latter’s fixture at Girona. Beyond the points, the performance provided a timely confidence boost ahead of crucial Champions League encounters. The mix of young contributors and experienced returnees suggests Madrid can sustain momentum even when some stars are unavailable.
With key fixtures approaching on both domestic and European fronts, Madrid will look to consolidate their position while managing player fitness and form.