Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad: Brazilian winger spot on in easy work for Alvaro Arbeloa’s men
In the end it was comfortable enough for Real Madrid, despite Kylian Mbappe’s absence, and despite Real Sociedad’s equaliser after Gonzalo Garcia had put the hosts ahead only five minutes in.
A brace for Vinicius, both from the spot, and a delightful goal from Federico Valverde allowed Madrid to race clear and turn the final 40 minutes of the tie into a non-event. “I wish every match could be like this,” Alvaro Arbeloa said afterwards and it was not hard to see why.
This was a good day for Arbeloa, Madrid temporarily taking up top spot, two points ahead until Barcelona face Girona. But this was also a good day for Vinicius and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the latter back in the starting lineup and showing in this game just what he provided for Liverpool and what he could for Madrid.
A sensational cross from the England full-back present the ball on a plate for Gonzalo Garcia to tap in with five minutes played, Garcia celebrating passionately in front of the Bernabeu faithful to show just what it meant to him that in Mbappe’s absence he could fill in and quickly get on the scoresheet.
Madrid’s highest goalscorer had trained separately with the first team during the week, and while Arbeloa said he had recovered enough to be in contention, there was evidently still some concern as to his fitness, so he was kept on the bench to be brought on if necessary.
It wasn’t. Sociedad equalised when Carlos Soler played a pass to allow Yangel Herrera run through and the midfielder was scythed down by Dean Huijsen, Mikel Oyarzabal subsequently converting from the spot; but then just two minutes later, Madrid won a penalty of their own after Vinicius was apparently tripped by Jon Aramburu.
Sociedad protested but the referee was uninterested. Vinicius sent the goalkeeper the other way to put his side ahead again.
🌙 Sweet dreams, Madridistas! pic.twitter.com/kvqZRiN0fF
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 15, 2026
With Mbappe on the bench Vinicius provided a large chunk of the inspiration. He has often struggled this season with a lack of end product, going on a 17-game goal drought from October 2025 to January, but has now scored five in his last nine.
Arbeloa was full of praise for the Brazilian: “I’ve been seeing a great Vini for a month now, not just in this match. He’s been playing at a very high level since I arrived, being a game-changer, as he was today, and scoring goals and providing assists on other days. He’s a player who goes beyond the numbers because of how he can influence matches, the number of players he draws in, and how he affects opposing defenses and teams.”
Just after the half hour, Federico Valverde was given time and space to curl in from the edge of the box to make it 3-1 and Madrid were running away with it. It should have been 4-1 when Alexander-Arnold flighted an inch-perfect ball into Valverde, who squared for Garcia, but the 21-year-old blazed over right in front of goal.
But in the second half Sociedad’s Aramburu then conceded yet another penalty when he lunged carelessly into a tackle that Vinicius had anticipated, and the Brazilian stepped up again to convert.
Win two penalties. Convert two penalties.
Vini Jr. making Real Sociedad pay ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FlNRiK9hF5
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2026
Up to this point Sociedad had been anaemic in front of goal. They came close when Soler’s cross was met with a header by Jon Martin and Thibaut Courtois nervously spilled, before reacting quickly to gather. The Belgian was on hand again when Benat Turrientes floated in a cross and Dani Carvajal’s poor clearance was pounced on by Aihen Munoz. Spread-eagled, Courtois repelled the effort.
At the other end, there was still a chance to heap more misery on the visitors. Garcia sat Igor Zubeldia down and his low shot was out of goalkeeper Alex Remiro’s reach and crawling into the post, but Martin, scrambling back, cleared off the line.
