Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid secured a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu on August 26, marking Jose Mourinho’s first home match back as the club’s manager. This La Liga fixture saw Madrid bounce back from a sluggish first half to deliver a dominant second-half performance.

Mbappe opened the scoring five minutes before halftime with a precise finish after a well-timed pass from Federico Valverde. However, Real Sociedad quickly responded when Luka Sucic capitalized on a deflected shot and defensive confusion, leveling the score just four minutes later. Despite the setback, Madrid faced jeers from their home crowd at halftime, reflecting frustration over their lack of rhythm and vulnerability in possession during the opening 45 minutes.

Mourinho acknowledged the critical atmosphere, emphasizing the demanding nature of the Bernabeu fans and expressing satisfaction with how his team improved after the break. Substitutions and tactical adjustments helped Madrid regain control in the second half, with increased pressing and sharp attacking moves.

Mbappe restored Madrid’s lead in the 60th minute following a swift interplay with Jude Bellingham, who played a key role throughout the match by providing two assists. Vinicius Junior then extended the lead in the 68th minute after a persistent effort from Bellingham, whose shot was blocked but quickly recovered to set up the Brazilian forward for an easy finish.

Ten minutes before full time, Mbappe completed his hat-trick by calmly scoring over Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro after a well-executed pass from Vinicius. The French forward’s performance drew praise from Mourinho, who highlighted Mbappe’s hunger to make history with Real Madrid and the overall strength of the team effort.

Valverde also commented on the team’s halftime adjustment in pressing strategy as pivotal to their improved performance in the second half. Meanwhile, Vinicius, who had been relatively quiet in the first period, appeared revitalized by his goal and contributed significantly to the final result.

Real Madrid’s win keeps them unbeaten after two rounds in the domestic league, and Mourinho expressed contentment with his squad’s reaction to pressure, looking ahead to their next match against Malaga. The victory also marked a positive return for Mourinho, who last managed Madrid at the Bernabeu over 13 years ago.