Vinicius Fires Real Madrid Back to La Liga Summit

SPAIN - Ekhbary News Agency

Vinicius Stars as Real Madrid Regains La Liga Lead with Victory Over Real Sociedad

MADRID, SPAIN - Real Madrid has surged back to the summit of the Spanish La Liga standings after securing a vital 3-1 win against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu. This victory, their fifth in as many league games under manager Álvaro Arbeloa, temporarily places them ahead of rivals Barcelona, who face Girona in a Monday night fixture, highlighting the intense title race.

The match kicked off with an early breakthrough for the home side. In the fifth minute, Gonzalo Garcia put Real Madrid ahead, expertly finishing a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, Real Sociedad responded decisively in the 20th minute. A moment of defensive lapse from Real Madrid's young defender, Dean Huijsen, resulted in a penalty. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, leveling the score.

The parity was short-lived. Just minutes later, Real Madrid was awarded a penalty of their own when Vinicius Jr. was brought down in the box by Jon Aramburu. The Brazilian winger took responsibility and coolly dispatched the penalty, restoring Real Madrid's advantage. Before the halftime whistle, Fede Valverde extended the lead with a spectacular strike from the edge of the area, finding the top corner with a powerful shot, making it 3-1.

Manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who has instilled a winning mentality in his team, opted to manage his squad carefully. With key players like Éder Militão, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo already sidelined, and with an eye on the upcoming Champions League clash against Benfica, Arbeloa also decided to rest Kylian Mbappé, who had reportedly missed some training sessions due to a minor knee issue. This meant Gonzalo Garcia was given a starting role alongside Vinicius upfront.

The second half saw Real Madrid maintain their control. The pivotal moment came when Vinicius Jr. was awarded a second penalty. The decision sparked some debate, with replays suggesting the Brazilian might have gone down easily. However, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the penalty stood. Vinicius Jr. once again converted from the spot, marking his eighth league goal of the season and further solidifying Real Madrid's dominance.

Arbeloa utilized his bench, bringing on players like David Alaba and Dani Carvajal, while also resting players like Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rüdiger. Carvajal nearly made an immediate impact in a negative way, as a defensive header from him almost gifted a chance to Aihen Muñoz, but Thibaut Courtois was alert to the danger. On the other side, Real Sociedad's goalkeeper, Jon Martin, made a crucial save to deny Gonzalo Garcia a second goal.

In the dying moments of the game, Vinicius Jr. thought he had completed his hat-trick, but his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside call. Despite the disallowed goal, the 3-1 scoreline was enough to secure all three points and send Real Madrid back to the top of the league table. This performance underscores Real Madrid's depth and resilience, positioning them as strong contenders for the title this season.

Ekhbary News Agency