Mbappe and Vinicius Score Penalties as Madrid Gets Help from Woodwork in Win at Sociedad

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (C) celebrates scoring his team's second goal, from the penalty spot, during the Spanish league football match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (C) celebrates scoring his team's second goal, from the penalty spot, during the Spanish league football match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Mbappe and Vinicius Score Penalties as Madrid Gets Help from Woodwork in Win at Sociedad

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (C) celebrates scoring his team's second goal, from the penalty spot, during the Spanish league football match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (C) celebrates scoring his team's second goal, from the penalty spot, during the Spanish league football match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on September 14, 2024. (AFP)

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior converted penalties to help earn Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad after the host was repeatedly denied by the woodwork in La Liga on Saturday.

Vinicius put the visitors ahead in the 58th minute after an unnecessary handball by former Manchester City player Sergio Gomez gave the Madrid forward the chance to break the deadlock.

Mbappe put the result beyond doubt in the 75th after a video review by the referee determined that Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu stomped on Vinicius’ foot in the box.

But before the goals, Madrid had to weather a furious attack by the Basque club that found ways through the defending champion's defense only to be turned back by the goal-frame.

“We probably didn’t deserve to win,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But we knew how to dig in during the worst moments. I value that sacrifice that is often tough to see on a team with the talent that this one has.”

Ancelotti’s side drew its other two outings in the Spanish league. Its first away victory put it one point behind leader Barcelona before it visits Girona on Sunday. Madrid opens its Champions League defense against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Sociedad matched Madrid’s pace and punch in a frenetic first half.

Luka Sucic hit the post twice, including a missile that rattled the crossbar in the 25th, and Sheraldo Becker also sent a ball off the crossbar.

On the other end, Madrid relied on Mbappe to provide its main threat, while Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro did well to turn back an Antonio Rudiger header.

Sucic sent another ball off the post from a pass by Umar Sadiq just seconds after halftime.

“We got lucky with the posts,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said.

But Sociedad was undone when Gomez raised his arm above his head and blocked a shot by Arda Guler, allowing Vinicius to go to the spot where he fired right past Remiro. Mbappe then beat Remiro when he shot one way as the goalie dove the other.

“We played a great game against the best team in the league and one of the best teams in the Champions League,” Sociedad coach Imanol Agualcil said. “We are angry at ourselves because we were better than they were today.”

Sociedad has lost all three homes games this season.

Madrid forward Brahim Diaz was substituted in the first half with a leg muscle issue.

Veteran leadership

Jesus Navas rifled in a powerful shot from a tight angle to give Sevilla its first victory of the campaign after edging Getafe 1-0 at home.

The 38-year-old wing back won the European Championship with Spain this summer, adding to his 2010 World Cup. Afterwards, he announced he was retiring from international soccer and he would likewise retire from club competition at the end of 2024.

His goal in the 23rd minute relieved some pressure on new coach Francisco García Pimienta.

Sevilla defender Marcao was substituted in the first half after taking a hard knock to the head.

Espanyol treble

Javi Puado scored a hat trick to lead Espanyol to a 3-2 win at home over Alaves and secure a second consecutive win for the Barcelona-based club that spent last season in the second division.

Puado steered in a low cross to open the scoring in the 21st. He struck again with a glancing header to restore the host's lead in the 56th after Tomas Conechny equalized for Alaves.

The Espanyol forward took the winner from the spot after Nahuel Tenaglia pulled it even at 2-2. Puado converted the penalty earned after goalkeeper Antonio Sivera tripped Walid Cheddira in the area.

Also, Ayoze Perez scored late for Villarreal to win at Mallorca 2-1. That was his third goal in five games since Ayoze joined Villarreal from Real Betis in the summer.



Vinícius Júnior Reaches 100 Goals with Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's 5th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's 5th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Vinícius Júnior Reaches 100 Goals with Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's 5th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's 5th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Vinícius Júnior reached 100 goals with Real Madrid in the team's 5-1 victory over Salzburg on Wednesday to secure a playoff spot after a slow start in the Champions League.
Vinícius scored his 99th and 100th goals, according to UEFA, moving him into third place in the top Brazilian scorers in the Champions League with 28 goals in the competition. Neymar leads the way with 43, with Kaká second on 30.
Madrid said Vinícius has 101 goals for the club, with Spanish media saying the discrepancy dates back to a Spanish league goal that many considered an own-goal and should not count for the Brazil forward.
“Sometimes it’s pure instinct, sometimes there’s a little more time so I can take a glance and see things which help, like where the goalkeeper is," Vinícius said. "Goals are making me a better player. Early on here (at Real Madrid), I didn’t score so many, but now I might play the odd bad game but still score twice, and that’s a good habit to have.”
Madrid, the defending champion and record 15-time European champion, had lost three of its first six matches in the new format of the Champions League and was at risk of elimination.
“I truly think that tonight we produced pretty much the complete performance, because we also turned it on in the first half," said Vinícius, who was named the man of the match. "But we really need to keep seeking our absolute best form so that we can keep on scoring goals and defending better as a team.”
The victory moved Madrid to 16th place in the 36-team league phase of the competition.
“We have some things to fix but we have good momentum,” The Associated Press quoted Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as saying. “The goal tonight was to win and play well. We started a bit soft but were able to improve.”
Rodrygo also scored twice for Madrid, and Kylian Mbappé added another goal after a blunder by Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Rodrygo has scored five goals in his last four matches, while Vinícius has three in his last two games. Mbappé also has five goals in his last four matches.
Jude Bellingham set up one of Vinícius' goals with a neat back-heel flick. The England player left the match in the 64th minute with a back issue but Ancelotti downplayed the injury.
Madrid next visits French club Brest.