Sun Sep 15 04:56:58 UTC 2024: ## Real Madrid Scrapes Past Sociedad Despite Lackluster Performance

**San Sebastian, Spain:** Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, but manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side didn’t deserve the win. Two second-half penalties from Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe were the difference, but the game was far from comfortable for the reigning champions.

Ancelotti acknowledged that Real Sociedad dominated the match, pushing Madrid to their limits. “It was a complicated match,” he said. “We didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad pushed us really hard.” Despite the lackluster performance, Ancelotti praised his team’s resilience and commitment in the face of adversity. “We held on and suffered, showed character, and a lot of commitment,” he added.

The victory sees Real Madrid stay in second place with 11 points, one behind Barcelona who face Girona on Sunday. Ancelotti attributed the struggles to fatigue and poor form, a consequence of a busy schedule and the recent international break.

However, there was some good news on the Mbappe front. The French captain continues to settle into his new club, scoring his third goal for Real Madrid on Saturday. “I see Mbappe fresher, more active,” Ancelotti said. “He is improving a lot. I liked his game a lot.”

Real Madrid will now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they begin their title defense on Tuesday against Stuttgart.

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