Courtois & Real Madrid Win 8th Straight, Beat Sociedad in Penalty-Filled Match

Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu on Thursday night in a La Liga match that featured three penalties, according to reports from Managing Madrid and Yahoo Sports.

Vinícius Júnior scored a goal during the match, celebrated as a key moment in Real Madrid’s victory (Europa Press via Getty Images). Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, acknowledged the challenge posed by Real Sociedad, noting their recent success under a new coach, but also suggested they might be fatigued from their Copa del Rey semi-final match earlier in the week (Tribuna.com, Telemadrid).

The starting lineup for Real Madrid included Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Valverde, Camavinga, Vini Jr. and Gonzalo (RealMadrid.com).

Player ratings from the match highlighted strong performances from several Real Madrid players. Trent Alexander-Arnold received a rating of 8.5, praised for his distribution and composure, and for providing an assist that broke the deadlock. Fede Valverde earned a 9 for a dominant two-way performance, including a goal. Courtois received a 7, despite conceding a penalty converted by Oyarzabal (Managing Madrid, Yahoo Sports).

While Courtois was not directly at fault for the penalty, he was called upon to make two straightforward saves during the match (Yahoo Sports). Defender Dean Huijsen, however, received a rating of 6, described as “still a bit chaotic” and responsible for the foul that led to the penalty. He reportedly improved after being moved to right center-back (Managing Madrid).

Real Sociedad’s fatigue, as predicted by Courtois (Telemadrid), may have been a factor in their performance. The match took place on February 14, 2026, corresponding to the 24th round of La Liga (RealMadrid.com).