Kylian Mbappe produced a stunning hat-trick as Jose Mourinho marked his return to the Bernabeu with another Real Madrid victory, defeating Real Sociedad in La Liga.
After beginning his second spell in charge with a 2-1 away win against Espanyol, Mourinho followed it up with another three points in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Real Madrid were made to work for the result as Real Sociedad defended stubbornly, but the hosts eventually found a way through. Mbappe delivered three excellent finishes, while Jude Bellingham played a major role in the attacking display with two assists and also helped create Vinicius Jr’s goal.
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Mbappe Leads Madrid to Victory
The atmosphere inside the Bernabeu was electric, with supporters eager to welcome Mourinho back to the stadium more than 13 years after his previous spell at the club.
The Portuguese coach had enjoyed considerable success during his first tenure, winning three domestic trophies and recording 128 victories from 178 matches.
Real Sociedad were determined to spoil the occasion, however, and kept Madrid frustrated during the opening stages.
The breakthrough eventually arrived five minutes before half-time. Mbappe displayed excellent control inside the penalty area, using his first touch to get away from his marker before firing a powerful finish past the goalkeeper.
The visitors responded quickly. Just four minutes later, a deflected effort landed kindly for Luka Sucic, who took advantage of the opportunity to level the score.
Real Madrid then took control during an impressive spell after the interval.
Bellingham combined cleverly with Mbappe to create the French forward’s second goal, with the striker calmly placing his effort beyond the goalkeeper.
The England midfielder was involved again for Madrid’s next goal. His persistence inside the penalty area allowed him to set up Vinicius Jr, who finished from close range.
Mbappe completed his hat-trick later in the match after running onto an excellent pass from Vinicius Jr. The forward showed composure to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and put the finishing touch on an outstanding individual performance.
Mourinho Praises Mbappe’s Ambition
Mourinho was quick to highlight Mbappe’s mentality after the match, describing him as a player determined to create his own legacy at Real Madrid.
The manager believes the France international offers much more than his goalscoring ability. Mbappe regularly becomes involved in the team’s attacking play instead of simply waiting for opportunities to finish.
Mourinho also suggested that coaching elite players such as Mbappe is less about individual instruction and more about ensuring the entire team functions effectively.
The hat-trick further underlined Mbappe’s importance to Madrid as Mourinho begins his latest chapter at the club.
Huge Reception for Mourinho at the Bernabeu
Mourinho’s return generated enormous interest before the match.
When his name was announced over the stadium speakers after the starting line-up had been revealed, the Bernabeu erupted into loud cheers. Supporters also broke into chants celebrating the returning manager.
Expectations are high around Real Madrid, with fans hoping Mourinho can guide the club towards major silverware. The manager is fully aware of the pressure that comes with the position and has already acknowledged that a season without a trophy would represent failure.
For now, though, the opening results could hardly have been better.
Two matches have produced two victories, while the performance against Real Sociedad was considerably stronger than the narrow win over Espanyol.
Madrid gradually grew into the game and looked increasingly comfortable as the second half progressed.
Mourinho spent much of the contest appearing calm on the touchline, although he did eventually approach the fourth official to question a decision.
Behind that composed exterior, the victory will have brought plenty of satisfaction. Starting a new spell at the Bernabeu with consecutive wins provides an important early boost.
Mourinho Stays ‘Tranquilo’
After the final whistle, Mourinho repeatedly used the Spanish word “tranquilo”, meaning calm, to describe his current state of mind.
He said there was a relaxed atmosphere within the dressing room and among the players, while insisting that he also felt comfortable in his return to the Bernabeu.
When asked about being back in the stadium, Mourinho remained understated. He recalled that on a previous occasion he had been forced to watch a match from a car park while serving a UEFA suspension. This time, he was back where he wanted to be — on the Madrid bench.
The Portuguese manager also appeared comfortable during his exchanges with journalists, showing some of the humour and personality that have long been associated with his press conferences.
However, there is still plenty of work ahead.
Real Madrid have made an excellent start under Mourinho, but their opening two opponents have yet to provide the kind of challenge that will properly test the team’s progress.
That could change on 20 September, when Madrid travel across the city to face Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.
The derby is widely regarded as Mourinho’s first major examination of this new Real Madrid side — and a much tougher test of whether his calm approach can continue when the pressure increases.
