Africa-Press – Lesotho. Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday to wrap off their La Liga season, giving manager Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Luka Modric a victory in their final match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After leaving Real Madrid, Ancelotti will take over as coach of Brazil, while Modric is expected to depart the team following the Club World Cup in the United States next month.
The atmosphere at the Bernabeu was emotionally charged as home fans concentrated on paying a respectable homage to their retiring legends, even though Madrid had little left to play for after losing the La Liga title to rivals Barcelona.
Massive banners featuring Ancelotti and Modric were displayed prior to the game, and the stadium announcer’s confirmation of the Croatian’s starting lineup was greeted with roaring cheers.
When the midfielder was replaced in the 87th minute, both sides united to give him a guard of honour, and the audience stood up to sing “Modric, Modric” in the tenth minute.
When he left the pitch in the second half, Spanish player Lucas Vazquez, who is rumoured to be departing the team at the conclusion of the season, also got a standing ovation.
Before Madrid was given a penalty in the 37th minute after a VAR assessment verified Pablo Marin’s handball, Mbappe kept Sociedad’s defence busy with many tries at goal during the action-packed first forty-five minutes.
Goalie Unai Marrero easily stopped Mbappe’s feeble attempt from the penalty spot, but the Frenchman quickly scored his 30th league goal by hammering home the rebound.
In the second half, Ancelotti substituted Vinicius Jr., a Brazilian who created Real Madrid’s second goal with an exquisite through pass that Mbappe turned in from a close range, virtually guaranteeing a Pichichi title as La Liga’s top scorer.
To match Mbappe’s total, Robert Lewandowski will need to score six goals in Barcelona’s league matchup with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
With his first goal, Mbappe also became just the fourth player in La Liga history to record 30 goals in his first season, after Ronaldo (1996–97), Pruden (1940–41), and Romario (1993–94).
With 84 points, Madrid came in second place, one point behind winners Barcelona, who still have a game to go.
Sociedad’s greatest outfield player was Takefusa Kubo, a Japanese winger who spent a few seasons with Real Madrid.
However, despite his crazy rushes in the home team’s final third, Kubo was unable to create any meaningful opportunities.
With 46 points, Sociedad is in 11th place.
As Sociedad said goodbye to manager Imanol Alguacil, who had guided the team to European football for five straight seasons and won the Copa del Rey during his seven-year tenure, there was also reason for emotion in the visitors’ dugout.
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