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New Delhi: Real Madrid’s perfect start to the La Liga season stayed intact on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe scored one and set up another one in a tense 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. Los Blancos were playing with 10 men for nearly an hour. Over in Germany, Harry Kane continued his blistering Bundesliga form, netting twice in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 thrashing of promoted Hamburg.
It took Mbappe just 12 minutes to make his mark in San Sebastian, finishing off a lightning counter-attack to put Madrid in front. However, their momentum was dented on 31 minutes when Dean Huijsen was sent off for pulling down Mikel Oyarzabal as the last defender.
Even a man down, Madrid doubled their lead before half-time. Mbappe sliced through Sociedad’s defence and squared for Arda Guler, who calmly tapped home from close range. The hosts pushed back after the interval and were handed a lifeline when Dani Carvajal handled in the box. Oyarzabal converted the penalty but Madrid’s defence held firm under sustained pressure to close out a fourth straight win.
The result keeps Carlo Ancelotti’s side three points clear at the top with 12 points from four matches. Meanwhile, Sociedad’s struggles continue as they sit 17th, still searching for a first win of the campaign.
At the Allianz Arena, Bayern blew Hamburg away inside half an hour. Serge Gnabry struck first after just three minutes before Aleksandar Pavlovic doubled the lead. Kane then made it three from the penalty spot on 26 minutes and within three more minutes Luis Diaz added a deflected fourth.
The Colombian has noe scored in each of his first three Bundesliga appearances and his chemistry with Kane and Gnabry adds another dimension to Bayern’s already formidable attack.
The second half saw Bayern ease off but Kane wasn’t finished. The England striker grabbed his second of the night just after the hour mark, taking his Bundesliga tally to five in three matches. Hamburg, who are back in the top flight after seven years, looked overwhelmed and have now shipped 55 goals in their last nine visits to Munich.
For Vincent Kompany, the performance was the perfect tune-up ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Chelsea. Bayern sit top of the table on nine points, two clear of Borussia Dortmund, who won 2-0 at Heidenheim.
