Real Madrid storm to pole position in the league table, dethroning Barcelona, with a resounding 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The team played with a melodious cadence and rekindled unity that allowed them to control the match and achieve a favourable result right when it mattered. In Kylian Mbappé’s absence, Vini Jr stepped up to score 2 penalties and captain Valverde and Gonzalo García also scored a goal apiece.
Both teams came into tonight’s match with a strong track record and therefore much to play for. The hosts, Real Madrid, had seen 7 consecutive league wins and were thus looking to extend their streak to 8, and with it, dethrone Barcelona for the top spot in the standings. Real Sociedad, however, had an even better track record with 9 straight victories following the appointment of Pellegrino Matarazzo. Under his leadership, Sociedad has risen to 8th in the table.
Despite their winning momentum in La Liga, Real Madrid has faced recent backlash from displeased fans following their underwhelming home defeat to Benfica which relegated them out of the Champion’s League top 8. Whistling had become part of the atmosphere in the Bernabeu which has no doubt been difficult for the players.
Tonight however, those whistles were transformed to cheers as the home team stormed to an early lead just five minutes into the match. After conscientiously moving up the pitch, the ball found its way to Gonzalo Garcia who gave it a nudge to send it home. The early goal was facilitated by an assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold who made his return to the pitch for the first time tonight since November.
The Basque team wasted no time in responding though, taking advantage of Dean Huijsen’s foul on Yanga Herrera in the box. The team’s captain Oyarzabal stepped up to take the penalty and delivered a masterclass on beating Courtois. With a pelting shot straight down the middle, the Basque striker levelled the playing field with the equaliser.
Sociedad’s penalty seemed to set the tone for the rest of the match. Five minutes after the first, a second penalty was awarded, but for Real Madrid this time. Vini Jr took to the spot and, with a nifty bit misdirection in his run up, he sent Remiro diving to the left while his shot hammered its way home in the bottom right. With only 21 minutes on the clock, Real Madrid regained the lead, and the stadium saw its third goal of the night. The second half followed suit as the third penalty of the match fell to the hosts in the 46th minute. Once again, Vini proved his mettle and fired the shot home.
However, there were more than just penalties to celebrate for the home fans. Sandwiched between the two spot shots was a galvanising moment from captain Fede Valverde. Having guided the ball through the Real Sociedad defence, he curled a sharp shot through the air to the top right corner, just out of reach of Remiro’s fingertips.
With 4 goals to their name, there was an undeniable momentum to Real Madrid throughout the match tonight, in fact they were almost unrecognisable. With a newfound harmony and synergy, it felt as though the team were working seamlessly for the first time in quite a while. The ball ricocheted between the players with an accuracy and flow that energised the match and underscored the unity the team played with. The attack and defence felt perfectly balanced – something it hasn’t been in recent months, and the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold made all the difference.
Having been one of the many Real Madrid players out of action due to injury for several months, Trent seemed keen to demonstrate his value in this return debut. Throughout the match he was at the centre of much of the play, acting as a divisive anchor and helping to move the ball effectively up the pitch. He reminded the stadium why he had earned his place on the team with impressive defensive movement and multiple beautifully placed long balls up to the forwards. He left the field in the 60th minute to a resounding standing ovation from the Bernabeu as the fans made their appreciation for him clearly felt; his was undeniably one of the star performances of the night.
Trent’s return to the Madrid starting lineup was paralleled with a couple of standout omissions as both Bellingham and Mbappé were left out of tonight’s starting XI. Arbeloa’s decision to exclude the two is not confirmed but presumably is to allow them to rest ahead of the team’s upcoming Champion’s League match next week. Given Mbappé’s leading goal stats so far this season, his absence may have seemed daunting at first, but the rest of the team proved that there was no need to fear. Vini Jr maintained impressive and clean attacking efforts throughout the match, supported effectively by the midfield and with 4 goals to show between them, the squad more than made up for the Frenchman and Englishman’s absences.
On the other side, despite their early penalty, Real Sociedad never quite managed to get their foot in the game and disrupt Real Madrid’s rhythm. They maintained their determination throughout the match however and displayed plenty of strong moments. Their defence worked particularly hard and succeeded in curtailing more than a few attempts on goal by Real Madrid. Notably, in the 69th minute, a Madrid goal was all but sewn up as Gonzalo passed the goalkeeper, but a spectacular last-second sliding block stopped the shot in its tracks and earned applause even from the home fans. While they weren’t able to come away with a win, they put on a valiant performance.
Real Madrid, over the course of this performance, clearly regained a huge amount of respect from their fans, and the Bernabeu was filled with a far more positive energy and response – the whistles dwindling to a mere echo. Tonight’s performance showed a renewal of Real Madrid and more than a glimpse of what the team is capable of at its best. The fans and the club will certainly be hoping that this newfound momentum will continue throughout the season, especially with the first leg of the Champion’s League Playoffs coming up this week.
With tonight’s favourable result, Real Madrid adds a further 3 points to the tally which sends them leapfrogging right over Barcelona to the top spot in the league table where they will no doubt be hoping to stay. Their next La Liga match places them against Getafe on the 2nd of March, while Real Sociedad will travel to Mallorca for their next fixture on the 28th of February,
