Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad: Carlo Ancelotti’s side fight back to claim win and remain perfect in La Liga

Real Madrid maintained their 100% start to the 2023/24 season by coming from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1.

The hosts found themselves on the back foot for much of the first half, but goals after the break turned the game on its head.

The visitors silenced the Bernabeu after just five minutes when Ander Barrenetxea grabbed his third goal of the season, bundling home on the rebound after forcing a sublime initial save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had a flurry of chances as they looked for an equaliser, including Joselu hitting the bar and having a shot saved, while Rodrgyo was also denied.

At the other end, Kubo was thwarted by Kepa, who also made a splendid stop from Mikel Merino, and those misses proved crucial when Federico Valverde equalised fewer than 60 seconds after the break.

That was a turning point, with Joselu nodding Los Blancos 2-1 up on the hour mark, a goal that knocked the wind out of Sociedad’s sails as they failed to find a response.

It is a mark of the start to life Jude Bellingham has made to life at Real Madrid, that ‘Hey Jude’ rang around the Bernabeu at points during the second half.

The England international, a summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, remains La Liga’s top scorer with five goals in as many league games.

He wasn’t quite at his sparkling best here, but still dictated the tempo and was a focal point in every Real Madrid attack. Few players have had the impact for Los Blancos that he has in such a short space of time.

Nobody on the field had as big an impact on the game as Takefuso Kubo, who was a constant menace on the right-wing.

The Real Madrid defence knew what he was going to do every time he picked up the ball; cut in onside on his left foot and cause havoc. Stopping him was an altogether different matter.

The Japan international, who was a little quieter after the break, was at the heart of every meaningful attack for his team and was unlucky not to grab a goal himself.

REAL MADRID: Kepa 8; Carvajal 7, Rudiger 6, Alaba 6, Fran Garcia 7; Valverde 7, Tchouameni 6, Kroos 6; Bellingham 7; Rodrygo 6, Joeslu 7. Subs: Modric 6, Camavinga 6, Nacho 6, Diaz n/a, Vazquez n/a

REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro 7; Traore 6, Zubeldia 6, Le Normand 6, Tierney 5; Mendez 6, Zubimendi 6, Merino 7, Barrenetxea 7; Kubo 8, Oyarzabal 7. Subs: Munoz 6, Zakharyan n/a, Sadiq n/a, Cho n/a

5’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-1 REAL SOCIEDAD (Ander Barrenetxea). What a turn up for the books! Kubo clips a low pass into the box to Barrenetxea, who forces a sublime stop out of Kepa, before bundling the follow-up over the line. 1-0!

16’ HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN? Unbelievable! Dani Carvajal pulls the ball back to Joselu after a shocking pass out of the Sociedad defence. The striker clips a shot against the bar, before Rodrygo’s acrobatic overhead kick goes wide

32’ KEPA MAKES ANOTHER VITAL STOP. Kubo is having an unreal night. He gets into the box again and the Madrid defence criminally allow him to cut in on his left foot. He crosses to Mikel Merino, who forces a sublime save out of Kepa with a diving header

46’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-1 REAL SOCIEDAD (Federico Valverde). Well that didn’t take long! Fewer than 60 seconds gone in the second half when the ball is pulled back to Federico Valverde, who has peeled off to the edge of the area. He unleashes a first-time shot than cannons into the back of the net off the post

60’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-1 REAL SOCIEDAD (Joselu). Comeback complete! Brilliant, deep, floated cross from Fran Garcia on the left-hand side, finding Joselu at the back post. He heads back across goal and into the bottom corner. 2-1!

• Real Madrid win their opening five league games for the second season running
• Real Sociedad haven’t conceded the first goal in any of their five league games – but only one of those has ended in victory