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Real Madrid delivered a dominant performance at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Saturday, defeating Real Sociedad 4-1 in a thrilling La Liga encounter.
The win extends Los Blancos' impressive winning streak to eight consecutive league matches and propels them to the top of the La Liga standings, at least provisionally, ahead of Barcelona's fixture against Girona on Monday.
Despite the absence of superstar Kylian Mbappé due to a knee injury, Real Madrid showcased their depth and attacking flair from the opening whistle. The home side took the lead in the 5th minute when young forward Gonzalo García steered home a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made a strong return from injury with an assist.
Real Sociedad responded quickly, equalizing in the 21st minute through Mikel Oyarzabal's composed penalty kick after a foul in the area. However, the equalizer was short-lived.
Just four minutes later, Vinícius Júnior won and converted a penalty of his own following a foul by Jon Aramburu, calmly sending goalkeeper Álex Remiro the wrong way to restore Real Madrid's lead at 2-1.
The momentum swung firmly in favor of the hosts as Federico Valverde added a third goal in the 31st minute with a superb curling strike from the edge of the box, his first league goal of the season putting Real Madrid firmly in control at 3-1 heading into halftime.
Early in the second half, Vinícius Júnior struck again in the 48th minute, winning and slotting home another penalty after being brought down once more by Aramburu in the penalty area.
The brace from the Brazilian forward highlighted his electric performance, as he tormented the opposition defense with his dribbling and earned high praise for his freedom and impact in Mbappé's absence.
Real Madrid continued to press for more, though a potential fifth goal was ruled out late when Vinícius was flagged offside after shouldering in a cross. The victory solidifies the team's strong form under manager Álvaro Arbeloa and sends a clear message to their title rivals.
"Vinícius was outstanding today he created chances, won penalties, and finished them clinically. Without Kylian, he stepped up massively, and the team showed great character and quality." Álvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid Manager
Playing at the Bernabéu with our fans behind us gives us extra energy. We keep pushing, game by game." Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid Forward
Real Madrid now sit atop La Liga, two points clear of Barcelona pending their result.
The club looks ahead to upcoming challenges with confidence, fueled by this commanding display.