Mbappe, Vinicius drill penalties in Real Madrid's 2-0 win at Sociedad

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior converted penalties to help earn Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad after the hosts were repeatedly denied by the woodwork in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday.

Vinicius put the visitors ahead in the 58th minute after an unnecessary handball by former Manchester City player Sergio Gomez gave the Madrid forward a chance to break the deadlock.

Mbappe put the result beyond doubt in the 75th after a video review by the referee determined that Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu stomped on Vinicius' foot in the box.

But before the goals, Madrid had to weather a furious attack by the Basque club that found ways through the defending champions' defense, only to be turned back by the woodwork.

"We probably didn't deserve to win," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But we knew how to dig in during the worst moments. I value that sacrifice that is often tough to see on a team with the talent that this one has."

Ancelotti's side drew in their other two outings in the Spanish league. Their first away victory moved them one point behind leaders Barcelona, who will visit Girona on Sunday evening. Madrid will open their UEFA Champions League title defense against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Sociedad matched Madrid's pace and punch during a frenetic first half. Luka Sucic hit the post twice, including a missile that rattled the crossbar in the 25th minute, and Sheraldo Becker also sent a ball off the crossbar.

On the other end, Madrid relied on Mbappe to provide their main threat, while Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro did well to turn back an Antonio Rudiger header.

Sucic bounced another ball off the post after receiving a pass from Umar Sadiq just moments into the second half.

"We got lucky with the posts," Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said.

Nonetheless, Sociedad were undone when Gomez raised his arm above his head and blocked a shot by Arda Guler, allowing Vinicius to go to the spot and fire past Remiro. Mbappe then beat Remiro when he shot one way as the goalkeeper dove in the other direction.

"We played a great game against the best team in the league and one of the best teams in the Champions League," Sociedad's coach Imanol Agualcil said. "We are angry at ourselves because we are better than they were today."

Sociedad have lost all three homes games this season.

Madrid forward Brahim Diaz was substituted out in the first half due to a leg muscle issue.