Vinicius Junior's Double Powers Real Madrid Past Real Sociedad 4-1 in La Liga Showdown.
Real Madrid overcame an early scare to defeat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Vinicius Junior starred with two crucial goals, propelling the hosts to a dominant La Liga victory.
Real Madrid entered the match in formidable form, sitting second in La Liga with five consecutive wins. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, occupied eighth place, looking to challenge the league's elite. The visitors aimed to break their poor head-to-head record against Los Blancos.
The game burst into life in the 5th minute. Gonzalo García gave Real Madrid the lead with a sharp finish, expertly assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold. This early goal electrified the home crowd.
However, Real Sociedad responded strongly. In the 20th minute, defender D. Huijsen received a yellow card for a foul inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 21st minute, leveling the score.
The parity was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Vinicius Junior earned and converted a penalty of his own in the 25th minute, restoring Real Madrid's lead. The momentum had swung back dramatically.
Federico Valverde extended Real Madrid's advantage in the 31st minute. Álvaro Carreras provided the assist, allowing Valverde to drill a powerful shot past the Real Sociedad goalkeeper. Los Blancos led 3-1 at the break after a thrilling first half.
Real Sociedad faced a challenging task at half-time, needing to contain Real Madrid's attacking prowess. The hosts, conversely, sought to maintain their high intensity and secure the three points.
Real Madrid started the second half just as aggressively. In the 48th minute, Vinicius Junior stepped up for his second penalty of the match. He dispatched it clinically, completing his double and putting Real Madrid firmly in control at 4-1.
Substitutions began around the hour mark. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rudiger made way for Dani Carvajal and David Alaba in the 60th minute for Madrid. Real Sociedad also made multiple changes, including Oyarzabal departing.
Real Madrid continued to manage the game effectively, making further changes. Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz entered the fray in the 73rd minute, replacing Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde. Aurélien Tchouaméni was later substituted in the 79th minute.
Despite Real Sociedad's efforts to find a consolation goal, Madrid's defense held firm. Beñat Turrientes received a late yellow card in injury time, a minor blemish on a frustrating night for the visitors.
Real Madrid dominated statistically, reflecting their strong performance. They registered an expected goals (xG) of 2.96 compared to Real Sociedad's 1.49. Madrid also had 5 shots on goal from 11 total shots, with 52% ball possession. Real Sociedad managed 3 shots on target from 12 total attempts.
This emphatic 4-1 victory strengthens Real Madrid's position in La Liga, maintaining their title challenge. Real Sociedad will need to regroup as they continue their push for European qualification.
