Mbappé scores hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 in Mourinho home return

First-half tension and opening goals

Real Madrid hosted Real Sociedad on Wednesday in their first home match of the league season at the Santiago Bernabéu. Before kickoff, Spain World Cup winners Marc Cucurella and Mikel Oyarzabal presented the World Cup trophy on the pitch. The opening half-hour brought cautious exchanges, as Real Sociedad maintained defensive structure while Thibaut Courtois stopped a low effort from Oyarzabal and Vinícius Júnior missed an early opportunity against Álex Remiro. Whistles were heard from sections of the home crowd around the 34th minute after Sergio Gómez sent a volley narrowly wide of Madrid's post. Real Madrid responded in the 40th minute when Federico Valverde drove through midfield and found Kylian Mbappé, who controlled in stride with his right foot and finished with his left into the top corner. Real Sociedad equalized four minutes later, as Luka Sučić anticipated a loose ball on the right following a defensive deflection and leveled the score at 1-1 before the interval.

Second-half dominance and clinical finishing

Madrid took firm control of the match after the restart, introducing Cucurella at left-back for Álvaro Carreras. Jude Bellingham began dictating the tempo from midfield, exchanging a combination with Mbappé in the 60th minute that allowed the French forward to restore Madrid's advantage. Bellingham contributed another assist in the 68th minute, battling for possession before squaring the ball across the goal line for Vinícius Júnior to convert from close range. In the 80th minute, Vinícius turned provider with a pass that released Mbappé into space to complete his hat-trick. Brahim Díaz had a goal ruled out for offside by video assistant referee review in the 90th minute, ending a match in which Madrid finished with 21 shots and 51% possession.

Mourinho returns to the Bernabéu dugout

The victory marked José Mourinho's first match managing from the home dugout at the Bernabéu in 13 years, following his previous tenure between 2010 and 2013. The Portuguese coach retained the starting lineup that opened the campaign on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol, maintaining a record of six points from two league matches. During his post-match press conference, Mourinho addressed the early whistles from supporters and praised his squad's composure under pressure.

I do not like to compare players, but this guy is incredible. I see him with a lot of hunger to make history with Real Madrid, and I have seen a team that, despite what Mbappé has done, has always been the same.

Squad integration and offensive rhythm

Federico Valverde noted after the final whistle that the squad focused on maximizing Mbappé's scoring opportunities throughout the match.

We have to enjoy him, give him a thousand balls so that he is comfortable, feels good, can score goals, and is happy. What he did today, he has done in many games, it is incredible.

Mourinho managed minutes across his squad late in the second half, bringing on Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Díaz, Yan Diomandé, and Carlos Espí in the final 12 minutes. Real Madrid sit at the top of the standings after two matches, ahead of Sevilla and Real Betis.