RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Jose Mourinho starting to unlock Real Madrid’s superstar attacking trio – report
Real Madrid made it back-to-back victories in La Liga , securing a stylish 4-1 win against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After a cagey first half that saw the scores level, Los Blancos came back from the break and picked apart the Basque club with utmost ease.
A hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe and a goal from Vinicius Junior would have enthralled Bernabeu fans, but there was a more interesting aspect beyond just the goals.
According to Mundo Deportivo , the victory over Sociedad offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of what Jose Mourinho wants from his attack.
Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham click
Their superstar attacking trio, Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, showed how effective they can be while functioning as a unit.
The three stars have shared the pitch plenty of times before, but combining their individual qualities into one coherent attacking structure has been a persistent challenge.
However, last night’s performance suggested Mourinho may be starting to find the solution.
Mbappe was the biggest beneficiary, scoring a hat-trick in a devastating display at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Bellingham, operating behind the attack, provided two assists, setting up both Mbappe and Vinicius.
The Brazilian also finished with a goal and an assist of his own, creating one of Mbappe’s three strikes.
It was the level of connection between the trio that really stood out. Rather than three elite footballers attempting to contribute individually, there was much greater chemistry between all three.
Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 taking shape
The Portuguese manager has been building around a 4-2-3-1, with Bellingham’s positioning potentially crucial to making the attacking structure work.
His ability to connect midfield with the two superstar forwards allows Mbappe and Vinicius to concentrate more heavily on attacking dangerous areas.
Mbappe, in particular, appears determined to take another step forward under Mourinho. Despite scoring 86 goals across his first two seasons at Real Madrid, his time in Spain has so far lacked the major trophies expected of a player of his stature.
A hat-trick in Mourinho’s first match back at the Bernabeu was therefore an emphatic way to begin changing that narrative.
Vinicius and Bellingham showed great chemistry. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Vinicius also enjoyed an important evening. After being whistled by sections of the Bernabeu early on, the Brazilian responded on the pitch and was eventually given a huge ovation when replaced by Yan Diomande.
Problems remain elsewhere
The attacking improvement should not mask the work Mourinho still has to do.
Real Madrid remain inconsistent without the ball, particularly with their pressing and defensive organisation.
Sociedad enjoyed periods, especially in the first half, in which they were able to exploit those weaknesses, just as Espanyol had troubled Madrid in the first game.
For now, Madrid’s enormous attacking quality is helping compensate for these fragilities.
Against Espanyol, Carlos Espi provided the decisive contribution from the bench. This time, it was the established superstars who took control.
The biggest positive from the Sociedad game was the connection between the superstar trio, and it remains to be seen how they get on through the course of the season.
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