Defeat at the Bernabéu

Real Sociedad suffered a 4-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight. The txuri urdin matched Real Madrid for much of the opening hour, but the hosts took control as the game progressed and ultimately secured victory in one of the toughest away fixtures of the season.

The San Sebastián side produced an excellent first-half display. Mbappé had the first opportunity, but Remiro stood tall to deny the French forward in a one-on-one. The txuri urdin responded through Oyarzabal, whose powerful left-footed strike was turned behind for a corner by Courtois. Shortly afterwards, Remiro once again kept Real Madrid at bay, this time denying Vinicius.

Real Sociedad then came close to taking the lead when Sergio Gómez met an Oyarzabal cross with a spectacular left-footed strike that went narrowly wide. Five minutes before half-time, however, Mbappé opened the scoring, latching onto a through ball from Valverde before finishing left-footed inside the box. The response was immediate: Sučić arrived from deep and, after Ochieng had kept the move alive, made no mistake with a composed left-footed finish across goal to level the scores.

The hosts stepped up the pressure after the restart and two quick strikes put them firmly in control. First, a one-two between Bellingham and Mbappé ended with the French forward finishing the move. Shortly afterwards, the Englishman set up Vinicius, who made no mistake from close range with an empty net in front of him. The txuri urdin tried to respond but created fewer openings than they had in the first half. In the closing stages, with the Gipuzkoans pushing for a comeback, Mbappé put the game beyond doubt by completing his hat-trick and scoring Real Madrid's fourth.

A defeat at a notoriously difficult venue. Now, the focus turns to our first home game of the season. This Saturday, we will welcome RCD Espanyol to Anoeta, with the aim of securing our first win of the campaign.

Match details:

Real Madrid CF: Courtois, Dumfries, Huijsen, Konaté, Á. Carreras (Cucurella, 46'), Bernardo (C. Espí, 86'), Valverde (c), Arda Güler (Brahim, 78'), Bellingham (Camavinga, 78'), Vini Jr. (Yan Diomande, 84') and Mbappé.

Real Sociedad: A. Remiro, Aramburu (Zubeldia, 57'), Beitia, Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez, Herrera (C. Soler, 66'), Turrientes, Take (Guedes, 74'), Sučić, Oyarzabal (c) (Óskarsson, 57') and Ochieng (Barrene, 66').

Goals: 1-0: Mbappé, 40'; 1-1: Sučić, 44'; 2-1: Mbappé, 60'; 3-1: Vini Jr., 68'; 4-1: Mbappé, 80'.

Referee: Mateo Busquets. Booked Á. Carreras, Konaté and Camavinga for Real Madrid and Herrera, Aramburu and Beitia for Real Sociedad.