Real Sociedad manager Pellegrino Matarazzo admitted his side was punished by Real Madrid’s quality, while also pointing to crucial mistakes that allowed the hosts to take control of the contest.

Sociedad had competed well during the first half and managed to frustrate Los Blancos for long periods, but their resistance gradually weakened as Real Madrid’s attacking quality began to make the difference in a 4-1 win for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Matarazzo felt his team had largely defended collectively, although moments of poor decision-making and a drop in intensity eventually proved costly against a side capable of punishing even the smallest errors.

Matarazzo highlights costly defensive lapses

Asked what Real Sociedad lacked to hold out for longer after an encouraging opening period, the coach offered an honest assessment of the goals his side conceded.

“Look at the goals: we defended as a unit, apart from a few moments when we were too deep, but then they were clinical and showed great quality.

“However, we weren’t at our best for the second goal, and for the third we lost possession first, and then lost our man-marking.”

Matarazzo also suggested that fatigue played a role as the game progressed. 

Sociedad became less aggressive after losing the ball and struggled to regain their earlier defensive intensity, allowing Madrid to exploit the additional space.

“Perhaps we were tired and lost a bit of our aggression, and we struggled quite a bit when we lost possession,” he said, as per MARCA.

Real Madrid’s attacking trio provides the difference

The result offered a strong glimpse of a Real Madrid side now under Mourinho’s command.

The Santiago Bernabeu had welcomed Mourinho back 13 years after his departure with a standing ovation, reflecting the supporters’ appetite for a new beginning following two difficult seasons.

However, there still remains an understandable sense of anxiety around the team. 

Notably, against Real Sociedad, the front three of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham produced the moments of quality that separated the sides, turning Madrid’s attacking dominance into goals when the opportunities arrived.