Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad: Vinícius Brace From the Spot Sends Arbeloa’s Side Top

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid shrugged off the absence of Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham to dismantle Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu on Saturday, climbing two points clear at the La Liga summit before Barcelona’s trip to Girona on Monday.

Vinícius Júnior converted two penalties and Federico Valverde added a thunderous first goal of the campaign as Los Blancos ended the visitors’ ten-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Mbappé, who missed training during the week with left-knee discomfort, watched from the bench after coach Álvaro Arbeloa elected not to risk him. Bellingham, nursing a hamstring issue, joined the Frenchman among the substitutes.

The hosts needed only five minutes to open the scoring. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s driven cross was steered home by the faintest of touches from 20-year-old forward Gonzalo García, reward for an enterprising start that suggested Madrid had heeded the mid-week team dinner paid for by Mbappé and Vinícius.

Sociedad responded emphatically. In the 21st minute Dean Huijsen upended Yangel Herrera, and Mikel Oyarzabal smashed the resulting penalty high past Andriy Lunin to level matters.

Parity lasted four minutes. Jon Aramburu clipped Vinícius inside the area, and the Brazilian dispatched the spot-kick himself, sending Álex Remiro the wrong way.

Valverde then seized the initiative, lashing a low drive inside the far post after being granted far too much space 20 metres out. The captain’s first goal of the season gave Madrid a 3-1 lead they carried toward the interval.

García should have restored the two-goal cushion on the stroke of half-time when Valverde squared for what appeared a routine finish, but the youngster blazed over.

Any lingering doubt vanished in the 56th minute. Aramburu again felled Vinícius, and the winger completed his double from 11 metres, sending Remiro diving left while the ball rolled right.

Dani Carvajal marked his own return around the hour, replacing Alexander-Arnold for his first league appearance since October’s Clásico defeat. Reports suggest the veteran was eager to reassert himself after 21-year-old Castilla graduate David Jiménez started at right-back in Valencia last weekend.

The result moves Madrid onto 57 points, two ahead of Barcelona with the Catalans still to play, and provides a timely confidence boost ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League playoff second leg against Benfica.