The Santiago Bernabéu felt like the center of the footballing world tonight as Real Madrid dismantled Real Sociedad 4-1, a victory that sends Los Blancos two points clear at the summit of La Liga. In a match filled with tactical intrigue and milestone moments, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side proved they have the depth to dominate even when resting their biggest stars.
The Return of the King (of Assists)
The night began with a massive boost for Madridistas: the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to the starting XI. After nearly ten weeks on the sidelines, the Englishman looked like he hadn’t missed a day. Just five minutes in, a trademark pinpoint cross from the right found the rising star Gonzalo García, who tucked it home to ignite the Bernabéu.
For García, it was a statement goal. Starting in place of Kylian Mbappé—who was rested due to a minor knee concern ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Lisbon—the young striker proved he is ready for the big stage.
The “Falcon” Keeps Flying
While Vinícius Júnior dominated the scoresheet with two clinical penalties, the moment of the match belonged to Federico Valverde. Fresh off his first league goal of the season, Fede proved it wasn’t a fluke.
In the 31st minute, with the score tied at 1-1 following a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, Valverde took matters into his own hands. Picking up the ball from Alvaro Carreras on the edge of the box, he unleashed a fierce, curling strike into the top corner. It was “Falcon” football at its finest—pure power combined with the confidence of a player who has truly inherited the #8 mantle.
Arbeloa’s Tactical Mastery
With one eye on the Champions League play-off against Benfica, Arbeloa used the second half to showcase Madrid’s incredible squad depth. We saw Dani Carvajal return to a standing ovation, and even 19-year-old Jorge Cestero earned valuable minutes, replacing Tchouaméni to anchor the midfield.
For Real Sociedad, this was a reality check. Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo arrived in Madrid on the back of a 9-game unbeaten streak, but his first taste of the Bernabéu ended in his first defeat. Despite Oyarzabal’s equalizer, La Real looked weary from their midweek Basque Derby win and simply couldn’t contain Madrid’s relentless transitions.
What This Means for the Title Race
With this win, Real Madrid moves to 60 points, leapfrogging Barcelona by two points. The pressure now shifts entirely to the Catalans, who face a tricky trip to Girona on Monday. If Madrid can carry this clinical form into Portugal on Tuesday, the “Arbeloa Era” might just be heading for something special.