Kylian Mbappe scored three times as Real Madrid recovered from a disjointed first-half display to beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in their opening home match of the LaLiga season.
The result gave Real Madrid a winning start in front of their own supporters, although the hosts were jeered during a sluggish opening period in which they struggled to impose themselves.
Real Madrid looked short of rhythm before the interval and were frequently careless in possession. Real Sociedad also threatened on the counter-attack, exposing uncertainty in the home side’s defensive shape and preventing the hosts from establishing control.
Madrid eventually took the lead late in the first half, but their advantage lasted only four minutes before Real Sociedad equalised. The teams went into the interval level, with the visitors having made the more threatening start and the Bernabeu crowd voicing its frustration at the home performance.
The match changed after the break. Real Madrid returned with greater purpose and began to control the contest more effectively, turning a level score into a convincing victory.
The hosts restored their lead on the hour before adding a third goal eight minutes later. Mbappe then completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining to seal a 4-1 win and underline the difference between Madrid’s uncertain first half and their much-improved second-half response.
His third goal ensured that the night ended with a comfortable scoreline despite the problems Real Madrid had faced earlier in the match. The forward’s contribution transformed what had threatened to become an uncomfortable home occasion into a decisive victory.
The game also marked Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu more than 13 years after his previous home match in charge of Real Madrid. His presence added another notable element to a fixture ultimately defined by Mbappe’s scoring and Madrid’s recovery.
Real Sociedad had posed a genuine threat during the opening stages, while Real Madrid struggled to find fluency and were vulnerable when possession broke down. After half-time, however, the home side became more efficient and punished their opponents with three further goals.
The 4-1 result therefore combined a difficult opening period with a strong attacking response. Real Madrid’s supporters saw their side move from frustration and uncertainty before the break to a three-goal margin by the final whistle, securing a positive beginning to their home LaLiga campaign.
