Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad
Santiago Bernabéu – Monday 26 October 2026
There are nights at the Bernabéu when the old place feels less like a stadium and more like a pressure cooker that has finally decided to whistle. This was one of those nights. José Mourinho’s Real Madrid put four past Real Sociedad, Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick, Vinícius Júnior added another, and the Basque side left Madrid with nothing but a late first-half equaliser to cling to. The final score was 4-1. It felt like more.
Preview
Going into this fixture the mood around Madrid was a mixture of quiet confidence and the usual Madridista impatience. Mourinho had been back in the dugout long enough for the early-season novelty to wear off, yet the team still carried that slightly unfinished look that every new Mourinho side seems to have for the first few months. The front three of Mbappé, Vinícius and the ever-busy Jude Bellingham already looked devastating on their day. The midfield, with Valverde and Bernardo Silva doing a lot of the dirty work, was functional if not yet completely fluent. At the back there were still questions – the usual rotation, the odd moment of hesitation – but Courtois remained a wall when it mattered.
Real Sociedad arrived in decent enough shape. They had been competitive, organised under their coach, and still capable of making life difficult for the bigger sides on their day. Mikel Oyarzabal remained the focal point, Luka Sučić offered energy and a goal threat from midfield, and Álex Remiro was always capable of producing a big save or two. The historical record between the clubs favoured Madrid heavily at the Bernabéu, but Sociedad had shown in recent seasons they could frustrate and, on occasion, punish the hosts if Madrid switched off.
The expectation among most observers was a home win, probably by a couple of goals if Madrid were clinical. Few predicted the kind of one-sided second-half demolition that actually unfolded.
Match Analysis
The first half was a proper contest. Madrid controlled more of the ball without looking entirely dominant. Sociedad sat in a compact shape, closed the central channels, and looked to spring forward whenever Madrid’s full-backs pushed high. For long stretches it was chess rather than fireworks.
Madrid’s breakthrough came in the 40th minute. Federico Valverde, who had been tidy without being spectacular, slipped a pass into Mbappé’s feet. The Frenchman took one touch to create the angle and then finished with the kind of low, precise strike that has become his trademark. 1-0. The Bernabéu exhaled.
Four minutes later the visitors levelled. A loose ball in the Madrid box was not cleared properly, Sučić reacted first, and the equaliser was in the net before Courtois could set himself. 1-1 at the break. It was a fair reflection of a half in which Madrid had been the better side without being ruthless, and Sociedad had taken their one clear chance.
Whatever Mourinho said at half-time worked. The second half belonged almost entirely to the white shirts. Madrid came out with greater intensity, higher pressing, and a clearer sense of purpose. Mbappé restored the lead on the hour. A neat combination involving Bellingham ended with the Frenchman stroking the ball home from close range. 2-1.
Eight minutes later it was 3-1. Bellingham, who had been the game’s most influential midfielder, refused to give up on a half-cleared ball inside the Sociedad area. He won it back, squared it, and Vinícius tapped in. Simple, clinical, and entirely in keeping with the way the half was going.
The fourth goal, on 80 minutes, was the pick of the lot. Vinícius, now fully into the contest after a quieter first half, played a perfectly weighted through ball. Mbappé timed his run, lifted the ball delicately over the advancing Remiro, and completed his hat-trick. The chip was pure class – the kind of finish that makes you shake your head and smile at the same time.
From there the game drifted. Madrid managed the closing stages without drama. A late effort from Brahim Díaz was ruled out by VAR, but by then the result was long settled. The final whistle brought the familiar Bernabéu roar mixed with the satisfaction of a job well done.
Tactically, Madrid’s second-half improvement was obvious. They were more aggressive in the press, quicker in transition, and far more decisive in the final third. Bellingham’s ability to receive under pressure and then release the ball at the right moment unlocked Sociedad’s defence repeatedly. Valverde’s energy helped control the middle. Mbappé’s movement – the constant threat of the run in behind – forced Sociedad’s centre-backs to drop deeper, creating space for others.
Sociedad never really recovered after the equaliser. Once they fell behind again they were forced to open up, and Madrid simply had too much quality on the counter and in possession. Remiro made several important saves, but even the best goalkeepers can only do so much when the opposition is creating chances of that quality.
Top Highlights
- Mbappé’s opener (40’). A classic Mbappé goal. One touch to set himself, clinical finish into the far corner. The kind of strike that settles a stadium and a team.
- Sučić’s equaliser (44’). A reminder that even dominant Madrid sides can be punished for momentary lapses. The ball was not cleared, the Croatian midfielder reacted first, and the Bernabéu was briefly silenced.
- Mbappé’s second (60’). The combination with Bellingham was neat and instinctive. Madrid’s second-half intent made clear in one move.
- Vinícius’s goal (68’). Bellingham’s refusal to give up on the ball was the key. Persistence rewarded, simple finish, 3-1.
- Mbappé’s third (80’). The chip. Vinícius’s through ball was perfect, Mbappé’s finish even better. Hat-trick completed with style.
Honourable mentions: Bellingham’s overall performance (two assists and constant involvement), Valverde’s work rate, and Courtois’s handling of the few moments when Sociedad threatened.
Summary
Real Madrid 4 (Mbappé 40’, 60’, 80’; Vinícius 68’)
Real Sociedad 1 (Sučić 44’)
This was the kind of result that reminds everyone why Madrid, even in transitional periods, remain the side most other Spanish clubs measure themselves against. A competitive first half gave way to a second-half exhibition of quality and ruthlessness. Mbappé’s hat-trick will dominate the headlines, and rightly so, but the collective performance after the break was just as important. Bellingham’s influence, Vinícius’s eventual impact, and the midfield’s ability to control the tempo all contributed.
For Mourinho it was another three points, another reminder that his methods still produce results when the players buy in. For Real Sociedad it was a difficult evening that exposed the gap that still exists when Madrid hit their stride. They competed for 45 minutes and then were simply overpowered.
The Bernabéu went home happy. The scoreboard showed 4-1. The performance, particularly after half-time, suggested a team that is beginning to find its rhythm under the Special One’s second spell. There will be harder nights ahead, of course. But on this Monday in late October the white shirts were clinical, entertaining, and ultimately comfortable winners.
Mbappé left the pitch with the match ball and the loudest applause. Bellingham received warm recognition for another all-action display. And somewhere in the stands the usual debates about squad balance and tactical fine-tuning continued. That is Madrid. Even after a 4-1 win, the conversation never really stops. On this night, though, the result and the performance gave the supporters plenty of reasons to smile on the way out into the Madrid night.
