Mbappé hat-trick leads Real Madrid past Real Sociedad

Kylian Mbappé delivered the decisive performance as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, giving José Mourinho a winning first home match since returning as head coach.

Mbappé makes the difference

Madrid’s victory was built on Mbappé’s clinical finishing. The France forward opened the scoring in the 40th minute, only for Luka Sucic to bring Real Sociedad level four minutes later.

After the break, Mbappé restored Madrid’s lead on the hour and set the tone for a far more convincing second-half display. Vinícius Júnior then added a third in the 68th minute before Mbappé completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining.

Mourinho’s return begins with a win

The result marked a successful homecoming for Mourinho, whose first match back at the Bernabéu as Madrid head coach came more than 13 years after his previous home game in charge of the club.

It was not a straightforward evening, however. Madrid were jeered before half-time after an untidy opening period in which they struggled for rhythm, gave the ball away too easily and looked exposed on the counterattack.

“There’s always a sense of justice in the boos and the applause, and the odd boo now and then doesn’t do anyone any harm – it helps you grow,” Mourinho said after the match.

“We all know the Santiago Bernabéu and just how demanding the fans are here, and I’m very pleased with how my players responded under pressure and put in a great second half, in which we could even have scored more goals.”

Real Sociedad threaten early

Before Madrid found their edge, Real Sociedad looked the more dangerous side. They nearly went in front in the 10th minute when Takefusa Kubo intercepted a loose pass near the edge of the area and played in Mikel Oyarzabal, whose close-range effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois.

That warning underlined the uncertainty in Madrid’s first-half performance, but the hosts were far more ruthless after the interval. Once Mbappé struck again, the game shifted firmly in Madrid’s favour and the Bernabéu mood changed with it.

A sharper second half from Madrid

The contrast between the two halves was clear. Madrid were disjointed and vulnerable before the break, yet much more direct and efficient afterwards. Mbappé’s finishing gave them control, while Vinícius added further weight to a performance that became increasingly authoritative as the match wore on.

For Mourinho, the evening brought both a reminder of the demands that come with the Bernabéu and encouragement in the way his side reacted. For Madrid, it was a result shaped above all by Mbappé, whose hat-trick turned a tense contest into a convincing win over Real Sociedad.