Mbappe Hat-Trick Powers Real Madrid Past Real Sociedad 4-1
On Wednesday, Kylian Mbappé's hat-trick broke through Real Sociedad's defence, helping Real Madrid shake off a dull first half and finish with a 4-1 victory that also marked Jose Mourinho's first win since returning to the Bernabeu manager's seat more than 13 years earlier. For long periods before the break, nothing looked likely. Sociedad were the more skilful side and could have taken the lead. In the 10th minute, Take Kubo pounced on a loose Madrid pass and found Mikel Oyarzabal, only for Thibaut Courtois to save the close-range attempt. Sergio Gomez then volleyed narrowly wide in the 34th minute, and the home crowd's patience began to wear thin. Mbappe responded five minutes before the interval. Federico Valverde split the Sociedad defence with a precise central pass, allowing the Frenchman to run through, cut inside and score with a strike into the top corner. The match still hadn't been settled at the Bernabeu. Four minutes later, Madrid's back line broke down — Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras were all caught in a straight line as Job Ochieng chased a long ball. After a deflection, the ball fell to Luka Sucic, who gathered himself and struck a low shot past Courtois to make it 1-1.  When Real entered the second half, they were met with jeers. In response, Mourinho brought on Marc Cucurella, and the change had a significant effect. Vinicius Jr and Mbappe began to pressure Sociedad with speed and directness, and the pressure paid off by the hour mark; Mbappe and Jude Bellingham combined quickly, after which the French striker placed the ball softly past Alex Remiro to put Madrid back in front. Eight minutes later, the score was 3-1. Bellingham regained the ball with a pressing run close to the byline and passed it to Vinicius, who scored from near the goal line. Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute by receiving a well-worked pass behind the defence from Vinicius and then lifting a calm chip over Remiro. After the match, Mourinho said the early jeers were harmless from time to time and noted that Bernabeu supporters are usually very demanding before praising the way his players responded in the second half — adding that Madrid might easily have scored more goals. The result gives Mourinho a strong start at home and sets an early benchmark in LaLiga, with Mbappe's hat-trick as Madrid's standout individual achievement in their first few weeks at home this season.
