Real Madrid Made a Statement, Real Sociedad Scored Five, and La Liga Refused to Be Predictable

If you wanted goals, individual brilliance and a few reasons to question defensive performances, Sunday's La Liga action delivered all three.

Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4–1. Real Sociedad scored five away from home. Celta Vigo edged Alavés 2–1, while Osasuna recorded a 2–0 victory over Racing Santander.

But two performances stood above the rest.

Real Madrid 4–1 Sevilla: Mbappé Delivered, but the Supporting Cast Deserves Attention.

Real Madrid entered this match without Vinícius Júnior, creating an opportunity for other attacking players to take responsibility.

Arda Güler opened the scoring, and Kylian Mbappé added a second before half-time. Mbappé then scored from the penalty spot after the break, giving Madrid greater control of the contest.

Sevilla managed a response through Manu Bueno, but Yan Diomande restored the three-goal cushion with an impressive finish.

Mbappé's brace was important, but Güler's creativity and Diomande's contribution also deserve recognition. Madrid showed that their attacking threat does not depend entirely on one superstar being available.

That depth could prove valuable as the season progresses.

However, conceding against Sevilla also means there is room to improve. A 4–1 victory is an excellent result, but Madrid will want to make sure their attacking brilliance is matched by defensive concentration in tougher contests.

Málaga 2–5 Real Sociedad: Oyarzabal Leads a Ruthless Response.

Real Sociedad produced one of the day's most impressive attacking displays, scoring five goals away from home.

Takefusa Kubo and Orri Óskarsson helped establish the early advantage before Mikel Oyarzabal took centre stage. The Sociedad captain scored twice in the second half, while Gonçalo Guedes also found the net.

Málaga managed two goals, but they couldn't prevent Sociedad from taking control of the match.

Oyarzabal's contribution was particularly important. His movement, finishing and ability to influence the game in decisive moments demonstrated why experienced attackers remain so valuable.

For Sociedad, the encouraging point is that their goals came from several players. That makes an attack harder to predict and more difficult to contain.

Still, conceding twice means the performance wasn't perfect. A team with serious ambitions must find ways to combine attacking freedom with greater defensive control.

Celta Vigo and Osasuna Also Found Ways to Win.

Celta Vigo defeated Alavés 2–1, while Osasuna beat Racing Santander 2–0.

These results may not have attracted the same attention as Madrid's victory or Sociedad's five goals, but they matter. Winning close matches requires patience, concentration and the ability to take opportunities when they appear.

Across the day's fixtures, we saw different approaches to success: Madrid's individual quality, Sociedad's attacking depth, and the efficiency of teams that managed their contests more tightly.

My verdict

Real Madrid delivered the headline result, but Real Sociedad deserve serious recognition for their five-goal performance.

Madrid showed attacking depth without Vinícius. Sociedad demonstrated how dangerous they can be when several players contribute. Both teams will take confidence from their victories, but neither should treat one result as proof that every problem has disappeared.

The real test is consistency.

Great teams don't just produce one spectacular afternoon. They make spectacular performances a habit.

let's talk:

Without Vinícius, did Madrid prove they have enough attacking depth to compete for every major trophy?

Is Oyarzabal one of La Liga's most underrated leaders?

Which performance impressed you more: Madrid's 4–1 win or Sociedad's 5–2 victory?