Real Madrid maintained its perfect start to the La Liga season, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour. The win was a testament to the team's resilience and a decisive performance from star striker Kylian Mbappé, who scored one goal and assisted another. The result keeps Madrid at the top of the La Liga standings with 12 points.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a quick counterattack to net his fourth league goal of the season. However, Madrid's momentum was disrupted in the 32nd minute when defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Mikel Oyarzabal. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Madrid doubled its lead just before halftime when Arda Guler scored from close range after a brilliant setup by Mbappé.
Real Sociedad, still searching for its first win of the season, fought back in the second half. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after a handball by Dani Carvajal, narrowing the deficit. The home side continued to push for an equalizer, but a resolute Real Madrid defense, guided by coach Xabi Alonso's tactical changes, held firm through the final whistle, including six minutes of stoppage time.
After the match, Mbappé acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. "The red card changed the game a bit. We struggled a bit as a team, but we take home the three points," he said. Mbappé also expressed his satisfaction with his own form and the team's strong start. "Our start to the season has been very good, as has mine." Coach Alonso, meanwhile, noted that the young defender Huijsen was "angry but relieved" that his dismissal had not cost the team points.
The victory leaves Real Madrid as the sole team with a perfect record after four games, placing them three points ahead of their closest rival. For Real Sociedad, the defeat is another setback, leaving them in 17th place with just two points and hovering just one spot above the relegation zone.