Mbappe opened the scoring just before halftime, drilling the ball past Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper Alex Remiro. The Basque side quickly equalized after the break as Luka Sucic found the net, leveling the score at one each. Mbappe restored Real Madrid’s lead with his second goal of the evening, fed by a superb assist from Jude Bellingham. Bellingham then set up Vinícius Júnior for a third goal, extending the advantage with a little over 20 minutes remaining in the match. Mbappe completed his hat-trick with a chipped finish ten minutes from the final whistle, capping a productive night for Mourinho’s side.
In the post-match press conference, Mourinho spoke about Mbappe’s role and what he hopes to see from him moving forward. When asked about the possibility of Mbappe reaching 60 goals this season, the coach emphasized the team’s priorities, saying he would prefer 40 goals if that comes with significant team success, over 60 goals that do not translate into trophies. He highlighted Mbappe’s technical abilities and praised the player’s work rate and leadership in helping the team grow collectively. Mourinho noted that Mbappe had arrived two days early to the preseason, a detail he believed could contribute positively to the team’s cohesion. He explained his decision to keep Mbappe on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, hoping for more goals, but made a substitution after Vinícius Júnior scored, to manage the game strategically.
The coach also addressed questions about crowd reactions during the match. He acknowledged that some fans showed boos as well as applause, describing the mixed feedback as a natural part of live sports, especially when a team faces pressure. Mourinho pointed out that Spanish clubs often aim to dominate possession and press high, making matches against top teams challenging. He praised both Espanyol and Real Sociedad for attempting to play their own game and for competing vigorously, which he views as a positive aspect of the league’s competitive balance.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid are scheduled to host Malaga at home in the next fixture, continuing their campaign as they push for continued success this season. The performance against Real Sociedad showcased the team’s depth and scoring power, with Mbappe’s goals underscoring his impact alongside a contribution from Vinícius Júnior and an impactful showing from Bellingham in setting up key goals.
