Mbappe scores and assists as Los Blancos maintain perfect La Liga start despite Huijsen’s first-half red card.
San Sebastián, Spain – Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 in La Liga on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring and assisting despite playing an hour with ten men after Dean Huijsen’s dismissal.
Mbappe Shows Why Madrid Paid the Big Bucks
Mbappe opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, and honestly, it was exactly the kind of goal that makes you understand why Real Madrid were so desperate to sign him. A loose back-pass from Real Sociedad’s defense turned into a nightmare when the French star simply outran two defenders before finishing with the kind of composure that suggests he’s settling into life at the Bernabeu just fine.
“The red card changed the game a bit but we weren’t afraid, we scored the second,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV afterward, though that might be understating things slightly. “We suffered as a team, but we go home with the three points.”
Real Madrid had started well at the Reale Arena. Arda Guler thought he’d opened his account early on, only to see his effort ruled out for offside, one of those marginal calls that seems to go against you when you’re the away team.
The Red Card That Changed Everything
Then came the moment that appears to have decided the match. Dean Huijsen’s straight red card for hauling down Mikel Oyarzabal looked harsh at first glance, though replays suggested the referee may have gotten it right. The Spanish center-back, who only joined from Bournemouth this summer, probably knows he left his teammates in an impossible position.
Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t having any of it, though. “For me it was a yellow card, (Militao) was close and the ball was not under control,” the Madrid coach said later, and you could see his point. “I asked about it, (the referee) explained it and it didn’t convince me.”
What happened next was probably inevitable given Mbappe’s mood. The former PSG star drifted inside from the left, where he seems to be finding his best form for Madrid, and laid it on a plate for Arda Guler. The Turkish kid’s finish was tidy enough, though the hard work had already been done.
Sociedad’s Fightback Falls Just Short
Credit where it’s due, Real Sociedad didn’t just roll over after going two down. Sergio Francisco is still looking for his first win as their new coach, and his side created enough chances in the second half to suggest better days may be ahead.
Mikel Oyarzabal finally got them on the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Dani Carvajal was caught handling in the box. The Real Sociedad captain had been frustrated twice earlier by Thibaut Courtois, who seems to save his best performances for when Madrid need him most.
You could feel the tension building as Sociedad pushed for an equalizer. Playing with ten men for over an hour against any La Liga side is tough, but doing it away from home when the crowd’s up for it? That takes some serious mental strength.
Ancelotti’s Game Management
Here’s where Ancelotti’s experience really showed. Taking off Vinicius Junior with 20-odd minutes left raised some eyebrows, the Brazilian looked frustrated as he trudged off, but bringing on Fran Garcia was pure pragmatism. Sometimes you’ve got to prioritize the result over the spectacle.
It’s worth noting that Ancelotti was facing his former playing club here, which may have added some extra motivation. Though with Trent Alexander-Arnold still warming the bench and Fede Valverde getting a rest, you get the sense Madrid’s squad depth is starting to create some interesting selection headaches.
What This Actually Means
Four wins from four games keeps Real Madrid top of La Liga, though whether this represents sustainable form or just good timing remains to be seen. Athletic Bilbao were playing Alaves later, while Barcelona had Valencia on Sunday, results that could shift the early narrative.
Mbappe’s comments afterward were telling: “The start to the season has been very good, and mine too, but the season is nine months, 11 with a World Cup, so I have to play well for a lot more time.” Smart words from someone who knows the spotlight never really goes away at Madrid.
Playing with ten men for an hour and still getting the job done probably says something about this team’s character. Whether it says enough to compete with Barcelona over a full season? Ask me again in May.
Those six minutes of stoppage time felt longer than they should have, but Madrid held firm. Sometimes the best victories are the ugly ones, especially when they keep you top of the table.
