Real Madrid, seeking to keep pace with league leaders Barcelona, travelled to the formidable Anoeta Stadium to face a Real Sociedad side known for their attacking flair and tactical discipline. The match promised a clash of styles, with Los Blancos aiming to exploit their individual brilliance against La Real's cohesive team play. 

 

The starting lineups hinted at an intriguing tactical battle. Real Sociedad, true to their 4-3-3 formation, opted for solidity in defence with Zubeldia and Aguerd at centre-back, flanked by the pacey Aramburu and Javi López. In midfield, Zubimendi provided balance, while Sergio Gómez and Sucic sought to create chances and link up with the forwards. The speed of Kubo and Becker on the wings, coupled with Sadiq's presence upfront, aimed to overwhelm a Madrid defence that was still finding its rhythm. 

 

Madrid, on the other hand, surprised with an unusual 4-2-2-2 formation, perhaps in an attempt to counter the hosts' high press. Carvajal, Rüdiger, Militao, and Mendy formed the backline, with Valverde and Modric as the double pivot. Brahim and Güler occupied the attacking midfield roles, supporting the strike partnership of Mbappé and Vinicius. Ancelotti sought solidity in midfield and speed in attack, but the team struggled to string together cohesive play and create clear-cut chances, relying heavily on individual brilliance to threaten the opposition goal. The absence of Kroos, a maestro of distribution and tempo control, was keenly felt in midfield, where Madrid missed his ability to dictate the pace of the game and break through the lines. 

 

A Vibrant First Half 

 

The first half was a treat for the neutral, with both teams committed to attacking football and producing an intense and thrilling spectacle. La Real, with an imperious Zubimendi pulling the strings in midfield, dominated possession and exploited Madrid's struggles in build-up play to create several scoring opportunities. The 'Txuri-urdin' displayed a combination of intricate passing and direct attacking, repeatedly penetrating the Madrid penalty area. However, a lack of clinical finishing and the woodwork conspired against them. Three shots struck the frame of the goal, one from Sucic in the 20th minute and two from Becker in the 36th and 46th minutes leaving La Real frustrated and highlighting the defensive frailties of Los Blancos, particularly in transition. The intensity of the game was also reflected in the yellow cards shown by referee Martínez Munuera: Sadiq was booked in the 17th minute for a tactical foul, while Aramburu received a caution in the 28th minute for a harsh challenge. 

 

Madrid on the Back Foot 

 

Madrid, meanwhile, looked uncomfortable with Ancelotti's tactical setup. The early injury to Brahim, who had been electric, creative, and involved, in the 25th minute disrupted their initial plans. His replacement, Rodrygo, struggled to make a similar impact. With very few ideas and fluidity in their play, the team relied on the individual talents of Mbappé and Vinicius. The Frenchman, increasingly influential, was Madrid's most dangerous player in the first half, creating two clear chances in the 18th and 37th minutes, one of which was brilliantly saved by Remiro. 

 

Penalties Decide the Tie 

 

The second half began in a similar fashion, with Real Sociedad dominating and hitting the woodwork for the third time in the match, this time through a Sucic effort just seconds after the restart. Madrid, unable to control the game, clung to their defensive resilience and hoped to capitalise on an opposition mistake. Their breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Arda Güler's shot from the edge of the box struck the arm of a distracted Sergio Gómez inside the area, resulting in a clear penalty. Although not at his best, Vini Jr., always a threat, confidently converted the spot-kick. The Brazilian, who had been subjected to hostility from the home crowd even before the actual game took place, celebrated emphatically, silencing Anoeta. 

 

The goal was a blow for La Real, who continued to push for an equaliser but couldn't find a way past Courtois. Imanol Alguacil tried to change the game by introducing Barrenetxea and Óscarsson for Sadiq and Becker in the 63rd minute, followed by Turrientes and Pacheco for Sucic and Aguerd in the 75th minute. However, it was Madrid who struck again. In the 74th minute, Aramburu's clumsy challenge on Vinicius inside the box led to another penalty for the visitors, confirmed after a VAR review. Mbappé, with the composure of a seasoned veteran, sent Remiro the wrong way to double Madrid's lead. Ancelotti then brought on Lucas Vázquez for Güler in the 77th minute and Endrick for Mbappé in the 89th, looking to see out the game. The match, which had lost some intensity after the second goal, flared up in the closing stages, with Pacheco and Barrenetxea receiving yellow cards for La Real, and Modric booked for Madrid in the 79th minute. 

 

Conclusions

 

The hard-fought victory at Anoeta underscores Real Madrid's ability to win even when they are not at their best. Ancelotti's men, still a work in progress, demonstrated their clinical finishing and ability to punish opposition errors. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, deserved a better result but paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal and some naive defending. Imanol's side, despite the defeat, put on a superb display and left a positive impression. 

 

The match also highlighted individual performances: Mbappé's growing influence in Madrid's attack, Vinicius' resilience in the face of adversity, Courtois' reliability between the posts, and Zubimendi's midfield mastery for La Real. However, it also exposed Madrid's shortcomings in creating chances from open play and their reliance on individualities, areas that Ancelotti will need to address. With an already lengthy injury list that included key players like Alaba, Ceballos, and Tchouameni, and with Mendy and Militão doubtful, Brahim's injury added another concern to an already depleted squad. 

 

In conclusion, it was a night of contrasts at Anoeta: La Real dominated but couldn't score, while Madrid struggled but emerged victorious. Los Blancos continue their journey, aware that there is still much room for improvement, while La Real are left to rue a harsh defeat but can take heart from their performance, knowing that if they maintain this level, good results will come. The match served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and the fine margins that can separate victory from defeat.