Real Madrid found the entrance to the tunnel through which they escaped from Anoeta on the penalty spot. From there they won a match that Real Sociedad had almost taken with the brusqueness of three balls hitting the posts, and from there they came within a point of Barça, who visit Girona this Sunday, at least for a few hours. Madrid left San Sebastian with the relief of victory, but with a certain anguish due to Militão’s limp, who spent a good part of the second half feeling his left knee, the same one whose ligaments he destroyed last season. Also due to Brahim’s injury, another loss three days before the Champions League opener against Stuttgart, and right at the start of the mountain of matches over the next three weeks. Although they left greater concern behind against a Real Sociedad that has only picked up four points in the first five games.
0
Álex Remiro, Jon Aramburu, Nayef Aguerd (Jon Pacheco, min. 74), Javi López (Aihen Muñoz, min. 77), Igor Zubeldia, Takefusa Kubo, Martín Zubimendi, Luka Sucic (Beñat Turrientes, min. 74), Sheraldo Becker (Ander Barrenetxea, min. 62), Sergio Gómez and Umar Sadiq (Orri Óskarsson, min. 62)
2
Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, Brahim Díaz (Rodrygo, min. 24), Federico Valverde, Vinícius Júnior, Arda Güler (Lucas Vázquez, min. 77), Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappé (Endrick, min. 89)
Goals
0-1 min. 57: Vinicius Junior. 0-2 min. 74: Kylian Mbappe
Referee Juan Martinez Munuera
Yellow cards
Sadiq (min. 16), Jon Aramburu (min. 27), Modric (min. 78), Jon Pacheco (min. 81), Barrenetxea (min. 82)
Despite the defeat, he played a remarkable, daring and sharp game that Ancelotti was unable to tie down with his 4-4-2 formation from the start. He had announced that he was hesitating between Brahim and Güler and went out with both of them. Although the plan barely lasted. The Malaga native broke down after the first run, a lightning start that undid the initial balance and allowed Mbappé to test the area and Remiro’s reflexes. Brahim held on for a few minutes limping until Rodrygo was ready, who had been scheduled to rest after his two games with Brazil. That was the end of the Malaga native’s game and the exploration phase.
The teams unleashed themselves as if they had been transported to the last 20 minutes. Real took advantage of a poor start by Madrid and Sucic left Courtois’ goal shaking with a shot into the top corner. Ancelotti’s platoon did not delay their response. Rüdiger headed a free kick taken by Modric that Remiro cleared with his right arm as if in a trance. More than the result of reflexes, the movement seemed driven by an illumination.
Madrid had abandoned the slow pace of the first few days and moved the ball with more vigour. Mbappé continued to sharpen his form, already with the finesse necessary to weave a ball that culminated in another shot inside the area. The Frenchman was focusing while Vinicius was getting agitated. The cleanest thing he was getting were some fouls, which were irritating him. But his game was a collection of blots: fruitless dribbles and blocked shots.
In such an open setting, Fede Valverde was once again at his best, happy in the cleared wasteland of the midfield with so much back and forth movement. There he stole the ball, there he advanced on the run and there he also controlled the ball with his pass, in an area where Zubimendi and Sucic returned the blows.
Real Madrid produced in a way they had not managed to do so far in the league, although Sadiq, a small surprise in the starting eleven, had a dull edge: the Nigerian’s inaccuracies prevented Courtois from getting seriously scratched. Even so, the Belgian spent the night in shock after shock. Becker moved the crossbar again after another error in the start. And later he watched from the ground, with his right leg stretched to the limit, as Sucic hit the post again after a one-two with Sadiq. Alguacil’s team went all the way to goal, except for the last centimetre.
Madrid were supported by the posts, Mbappé’s runs and a harmless headed corner by Militão. They looked further away from the goal, but they got there sooner by an almost accidental route. Arda Güler took a good shot that looked for Remiro’s top corner, but on the way he found the arm of Sergio Gómez, who, betrayed by the reflex to protect himself, conceded a penalty. In the alternation between Mbappé and Vinicius, this time it was the turn of the Brazilian, who was blurred. But he got it right and Madrid found themselves ahead after the three occasions in which the shaking of the woodwork made him briefly see behind.
Alguacil tried to strike back from the bench. He took off Sadiq and brought on Icelander Óskarsson, who was snapped up at the end of the transfer window from Copenhagen, where he had scored seven goals in 12 games, between his league and the previous Conference League games. Real tried an aerial assault and found several shots there, which Courtois saw go over his crossbar or palmed out.
Madrid once again found the answer in the penalty area. Vinicius reached the byline, put in a cross and was stamped on as he released the ball. Mbappé also scored and has now scored three goals in five league games, four in six this season, including the one in the European Super Cup final. The Frenchman is sharpening up, Vinicius is keeping up his determination and Madrid is getting back on track with its first league win away from the Bernabéu.
