Mbappe goal and assist seal victory for 10-man Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s trip to San Sebastian was never going to be straightforward but the way they held on with ten men for nearly an hour said plenty about their character and early-season intent.

Kylian Mbappe once again carried the headlines scoring one and assisting another yet this victory went beyond individual brilliance. It was about resilience organization and the ability to bend without breaking in the face of sustained pressure.

The opener summed up Madrid’s cutting edge. A loose backpass from Mikel Goti was punished ruthlessly Mbappe bursting through before finishing with the kind of confidence that has already become his trademark in La Liga.

It was his fourth league goal of the season and a reminder of why the club fought so hard to bring him to the Bernabeu.

But the game turned in the 32nd minute when Dean Huijsen was dismissed for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal.

The decision was debated furiously by Xabi Alonso who felt Eder Militao was close enough to cover. Regardless Madrid were left to play with ten and the match became about survival.

Before the break Mbappe produced another moment of quality wriggling away from Aritz Elustondo before teeing up Arda Guler. The teenager’s composed finish doubled the lead and gave Madrid the cushion they desperately needed.

Sociedad inevitably responded and Dani Carvajal’s handball gifted them a way back. Oyarzabal converted from the spot and with half an hour left the atmosphere inside Anoeta grew restless with Madrid clinging on.

The closing stages were all about Thibaut Courtois and Madrid’s defensive line. The Belgian goalkeeper denied Oyarzabal Duje Caleta-Car and others as Sociedad pushed wave after wave forward.

Takefusa Kubo fired wide while Jon Aramburu saw a late effort blocked in stoppage time. Madrid though refused to yield.

For Alonso a Basque native facing his boyhood club this was an afternoon of mixed emotions. But he will be quietly delighted with how his side coped under pressure. Four wins from four and a five-point lead over Barcelona is no small statement.

The real takeaway is Madrid’s adaptability. They proved to be not just a team capable of dazzling attacking football but one that can dig deep absorb pressure and still emerge victorious.