Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the LaLiga season with a 2–1 victory over Real Sociedad at Anoeta, their fourth straight win in the league. Despite the extremely poor refereeing that led to Real Madrid being reduced to 10 men for most of the game, Xabi Alonso’s men pulled through for all three points. The goals came from Arda Güler and Kylian Mbappé for the visitors. Mikel Oyarzabal got one back from the spot for La Real.
Real Sociedad dominated several of the volume metrics. Sergio Gómez
attempted 17 progressive passes, carried the ball forward 14 times, and touched the ball 103 times, leading the match in all three categories. Duje Caleta-Car added 14 progressive passes and 77 touches, while Ander Barrenetxea created four key passes and registered 39 touches in the final third.
Carlos Soler completed 94.3% of his passes and made eight progressive carries. Jon Gorrotxategi also contributed with 88.5% pass completion and eight progressive passes. For Madrid, Dani Ceballos topped the passing chart at 96.2%, Álvaro Carreras recovered possession six times, and Aurélien Tchouaméni added four recoveries along with 82.9% pass completion.
Arda Güler scored Madrid’s second goal, created four key passes, and completed nine progressive passes. He registered 47 touches, including 18 in the final third, and recorded an xT gain of 2.635, the highest in the match.
Dani Carvajal completed 100% of his longballs, recorded 45 touches. He recovered possession four times and generated an xT gain of 0.665.
Kylian Mbappé, the star of the match, scored the opener and assisted Güler, completed seven take-ons, and delivered two key passes. He added eight progressive carries, 27 touches in the final third, three ball recoveries, and an 84.2% pass completion rate.
Dean Huijsen, despite getting unfairly sent off just after the half-hour mark, was among the top five players of the game for aerial duals won.
