Real Sociedad 1, Real Madrid 2 — Reale Arena, San Sebastián, September 13, 2025
This one should have been quieter. Instead it had everything: a quality finish from Kylian Mbappé, a brilliant Arda Güler strike, a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, and a red card that stole the headlines. Real Madrid left San Sebastián with a 2–1 win, but they did it down to 10 men for nearly an hour after Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red in the first half. Reuters+1
How it played out
- Mbappé opened the scoring early, taking advantage of a moment of confusion at the back and giving Madrid the lead in the 12th minute. Reuters
- The game turned ugly in the 31st/32nd minute when Dean Huijsen was sent off for a tackle on Mikel Oyarzabal that the referee judged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Huijsen’s dismissal proved hugely controversial because Éder Militão was close enough to provide cover; Madrid protested and asked for a pitchside review, but the red stood. Reuters+1
- Just before half time Arda Güler made it 2–0, a smart finish from a move started by Mbappé. Sociedad pulled one back from the spot after halftime when Oyarzabal converted a penalty following a handball. Reuters
The numbers backed the story
Sociedad dominated the ball and piled up chances, but Madrid were more clinical: possession 64% to 36%, shots 23 to 16, corners 12 to 4. Madrid had fewer attempts on goal, but they made their moments count and held firm when it mattered most. ESPN.com+1
The controversy
This is the angle that won’t go away: many observers said the red was harsh because Huijsen was not truly isolated and a teammate was in position to cover. The refusal to send the referee to the monitor only amplified the outrage. There are already reports that the referees’ technical committee will review the decision, and the VAR official who did not call for a review is likely to face consequences. Real Madrid have signalled they will take the matter up with the authorities. Madrid Universal+1
What mattered on the pitch
Kylian Mbappé carried Madrid when it mattered: goal, assist, constant threat. Arda Güler continues to justify the hype with a composed finish and lively play. Thibaut Courtois was important late on with a couple of crucial saves that kept Madrid ahead. For Sociedad, the stats show they created chances, but they lacked the final punch when it counted. Reuters+1
Bottom line
Madrid remain perfect in LaLiga after four games, but this felt like a win with a question mark attached. The red card changed the narrative: you remember the sending-off as much as the result. If the refereeing committees agree the decision was wrong, this match will be remembered as another example of poor process deciding headlines rather than the football itself. For now, Madrid take three points; Sociedad take the moral victory of control and chance dominance, and fans keep arguing about fairness.
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