La Liga Match Report from the Santiago Bernabéu
Real Madrid delivered one of their most complete home performances of the season on Saturday, defeating Real Sociedad 4–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to continue their push at the top of La Liga. A fast start, quick response after conceding, and clinical finishing in both halves allowed Carlo Ancelotti’s side to control the match and pull away comfortably.
The victory strengthened Madrid’s position in the title race and extended their strong run of form at home.
Goal Timeline
5’ — Real Madrid 1–0: Gonzalo García
Madrid struck early through Gonzalo García, who finished from close range after a quick attacking move to give the hosts immediate momentum.
21’ — Real Sociedad 1–1: Mikel Oyarzabal (penalty)
Real Sociedad responded when Oyarzabal converted from the penalty spot, briefly leveling the match and shifting momentum.
25’ — Real Madrid 2–1: Vinícius Jr. (penalty)
Madrid answered almost immediately. Vinícius Jr. converted from the spot to restore the lead and settle the Bernabéu.
31’ — Real Madrid 3–1: Federico Valverde
Valverde delivered the decisive moment of the first half, striking from distance to extend the lead and put Madrid firmly in control before halftime.
48’ — Real Madrid 4–1: Vinícius Jr. (penalty)
Vinícius added his second early in the second half from another penalty, effectively ending the contest and sealing the three points.
Key Moments
Madrid’s early goal forced Sociedad to chase the game and allowed the home side to dictate the pace from the opening minutes.
Immediate response after equalizer; Sociedad’s penalty briefly leveled the match, but Madrid’s quick reaction through Vinícius shifted momentum back instantly.
As Valverde’s long-range finish for 3–1 before halftime gave Madrid breathing room and effectively broke Sociedad’s resistance.
Madrid maintained control throughout the second-half. Once Madrid made it 4–1 early in the second half, they managed the game comfortably and limited Sociedad’s chances.
Post-Match Takeaways
Vinícius Jr. leading the attack
Vinícius’ two-goal performance highlighted his importance to Madrid’s attack. His pace and composure from the penalty spot were decisive.
Midfield control
Madrid’s midfield dictated tempo throughout, allowing quick transitions and limiting Sociedad’s time on the ball.
Title race momentum
The win pushed Madrid to the top of La Liga and reinforced their status as title contenders heading into the next stretch of fixtures.
Post-Match Reaction
After the match, Real Madrid staff praised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impact, noting the club is “lucky to have a player like him” following his performance and assist in the 4–1 win.
The result was widely described as a dominant team performance, with Vinícius Jr.’s brace and Madrid’s attacking depth proving decisive in securing all three points.
The victory also moved Madrid clear at the top of the La Liga table at the end of the weekend and ended Real Sociedad’s strong run of form, reinforcing Madrid’s momentum in the title race.
From the Sociedad side, the tone after the match reflected the difficulty of chasing the game after falling behind again so quickly, with Madrid’s quality and finishing ultimately proving the difference.
Real Madrid’s 4–1 win over Real Sociedad was built on intensity, quick responses, and attacking efficiency. After conceding once, Madrid regained control almost immediately and never looked back. With momentum building and performances improving, the result keeps them firmly on track in the La Liga title race.
