Mbappe shines as 10-man Madrid defeats Real Sociedad

BARCELONA — Kylian Mbappe was at his brilliant best as Real Madrid showed grit to claim a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday, despite playing for an hour with 10 men after Dean Huijsen's red card.

First-half goals from Mbappe and Arda Guler were enough for Los Blancos to maintain their 100 percent record, with Mikel Oyarzabal pulling one back for the host from the penalty spot.

Xabi Alonso's side tops the table on 12 points from four games, three ahead of second-placed Athletic Bilbao after it fell to a 1-0 defeat to Alaves, tarnishing its own perfect start.

Atletico Madrid earned its first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over fourth-place Villarreal, while champion Barcelona was set to host Valencia on Sunday.

Madrid defender Huijsen was dismissed for pulling down Oyarzabal as he ran through on goal with Madrid leading 1-0 through Mbappe's opener. The Frenchman set up Guler for Madrid's second.

"The red card changed the game a bit, but we weren't afraid, we scored the second. We suffered as a team, but we go home with the three points," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.

"The start to the season has been very good, and mine too, but the season is nine months, 11 with a World Cup, so I have to play well for a lot more time (to come)."

Madrid lined up with Dani Carvajal at right-back, leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench, while Fede Valverde was rested in favor of Dani Ceballos.

Mbappe broke the deadlock after 12 minutes, when he sprinted onto a loose back-pass, beating two defenders for pace before producing a clinical finish for his fourth league goal of the season.

Madrid's task grew harder when Spanish centerback Huijsen, signed from Bournemouth this summer, was dismissed.

"For me, it was a yellow card, (Eder Militao) was close and the ball was not under control, and seeing the replay didn't change my mind," Alonso said.

"I'm even more sure that it wasn't worth a straight red. I asked about it, (the referee) explained it, and it didn't convince me.

"But, I'm proud that my players kept fighting and came out with a win, we had good chances to score more goals and held on well at the back.

"It was very positive to see the collective effort and team spirit they showed on the pitch today."

Despite its numerical disadvantage, Guler doubled Madrid's lead before the break with a neat finish, after a superb run from Mbappe, who teed him up after floating inside from the left.

The host improved in the second half and won a penalty after a Carvajal handball, which Oyarzabal dispatched, but Real could not find a way back.

Sole leader

Madrid's victory ensures it will be sole leader, as Ernesto Valverde's Athletic stumbled in a Basque derby.

Alejandro Berenguer's own goal, deflecting Denis Suarez's cross into his own net, split the teams at Estadio de San Mames, as host Athletic dominated, but could not avoid defeat to Alaves.

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid has suffered two defeats and a draw in its opening fixtures, but produced a far more impressive display to triumph at Metropolitano Stadium against Villarreal with goals from Pablo Barrios and debutant Nico Gonzalez.

The Rojiblancos were forced to bring off Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand and David Hancko with knocks, a worry ahead of their Champions League opener at Liverpool on Wednesday.

"Our fans supported us today when we needed it most," Atletico skipper Koke told Movistar.

"Hopefully the (hurt) players rest well, we have a very important game against Liverpool."

Simeone said he was pleased with his team's performance, and was hoping to find out more about the injured players on Sunday.

"It's a shame we didn't have the calm we needed (to score more), but I'm very happy with the team," said Simeone.

"I haven't spoken to the doctor about the players who went off hurt, but in general it's discomfort, knocks — tomorrow we'll know more."

AFP