In a tense La Liga clash, Real Madrid overcame Real Sociedad 2-0 with second-half penalties from Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Despite the victory, manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his side didn’t dominate the match and praised the resilience shown by his players under intense pressure.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ancelotti was candid about the challenges Real Madrid faced. “It was a complicated match. We didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad pushed us really hard,” he said. The home side applied constant pressure, but Real Madrid’s defensive effort and key saves helped them grind out a crucial win.
The Italian manager emphasized the importance of resilience, saying, “We held on, showed character, and a lot of commitment. It’s not easy to find that in a team with so much talent and quality, but today we did it.”
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring from the penalty spot early in the second half, followed by another successful penalty from Kylian Mbappe. The French forward, who has been steadily improving since his arrival, scored his third goal for Real Madrid, leaving Ancelotti impressed.
“Mbappe is getting sharper, more dangerous. He combines well with Vinicius and the other forwards. I liked his game a lot,” Ancelotti remarked, highlighting Mbappe’s growing confidence and impact on the team.
Despite the win, Ancelotti acknowledged his team’s struggles with fatigue and injuries. “We are not at 100 percent. We’re missing four key midfielders—Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Aurelien Tchouameni. But I value the work of those who stepped up.”
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Real Madrid’s demanding schedule, compounded by the recent international break, has taken a toll on the squad. However, the team’s ability to secure three points despite the circumstances shows their depth and determination.
With this crucial win behind them, Real Madrid will now shift their focus to defending their Champions League title, starting with a group-stage clash against Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Real Madrid’s win keeps them in second place with 11 points, just one behind leaders Barcelona, who face Girona on Sunday.
While it may not have been Real Madrid’s most dominant performance, the resilience and penalty precision from Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe were enough to secure the victory. With injuries still plaguing the squad, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be looking to improve as they gear up for a busy run of fixtures, including their Champions League campaign.
