Real Madrid continued their impressive start to the 2023/24 season with a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Real Sociedad, maintaining a perfect 100% record.
In the early stages of the match, the home team found themselves under pressure from the visitors, with Real Sociedad taking the lead just five minutes in. Ander Barrenetxea capitalized on a brilliant initial save by Kepa Arrizabalaga, slotting home the rebound to make it his third goal of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid squad displayed their determination to equalize as they created several scoring opportunities. Joselu rattled the crossbar and saw a shot saved, while Rodrygo was also denied by the opposing goalkeeper.
On the defensive end, Kepa Arrizabalaga continued to showcase his skill, making crucial saves, including one from Mikel Merino, keeping his team in the game. However, the tide turned dramatically when Federico Valverde scored less than a minute into the second half, leveling the score at 1-1.
The pivotal moment arrived when Joselu headed Real Madrid into a 2-1 lead on the hour mark, sapping the energy from the Real Sociedad side, who struggled to mount a comeback.
A notable highlight of the match was the performance of Jude Bellingham, the England international who had joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Bellingham currently leads La Liga in goals, having scored five in as many league games. Although he may not have been at his absolute best in this particular match, he consistently dictated the tempo and played a central role in every Real Madrid attack, making an impressive impact in a short period since joining the team.
However, the standout player of the game was Takefusa Kubo, who constantly menaced the opposition from the right wing. The Real Madrid defense struggled to contain him, as he repeatedly cut inside on his left foot and caused chaos. Kubo was the driving force behind nearly every meaningful attack for his team and came close to scoring a goal himself.
In summary, Real Madrid’s victory against Real Sociedad showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, with notable contributions from Jude Bellingham and Takefusa Kubo, solidifying their position at the top of the league table.