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Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe both scored from the penalty spot to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday.
The Spanish champions moved within one point of leaders Barcelona, who face last year’s surprise team Girona on Sunday.
Real Sociedad hit the woodwork three times before Madrid won penalties in the second half to take three points from a match between equal sides at the Reale Arena.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had to do without injured midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni and put Rodrygo Goes on the bench for Brahim Diaz.
After Mbappe scored two goals in his last game, his first goals in La Liga, all eyes were on the French striker.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker forced Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro into a brilliant save and his foray forward was interrupted by a last-minute save.
Real Sociedad hit the woodwork for the first of three times when new signing Luka Sucic hit the crossbar with a long-range shot.
Ancelotti brought on Rodrygo after Diaz sustained an injury and the champions went close to scoring thanks to an Antonio Rüdiger header saved by Remiro and a shot from Mbappé.
On the other side, Real Sociedad striker Sheraldo Becker hit the crossbar after a play-in.
Sucic fired a low shot onto the post early in the second half as the Basques were running out of luck in front of goal and Madrid inevitably capitalised.
Vinicius converted a penalty in the 58th minute after Sergio Gomez blocked Arda Guler’s shot with his hand, and Mbappe followed suit shortly after.
The French superstar sent Remiro the wrong way from the penalty spot after Jon Aramburu stepped on Vinicius’ foot.
Madrid survived the remaining 15 minutes without any stress before returning to Champions League action on Tuesday against Stuttgart.
Previously, Sevilla had achieved its first win of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory against Getafe and Villarreal moved provisionally into third place with a 2-1 win in Mallorca.