Mbappé and Vinícius score penalties as Madrid gets help from woodwork in win at Sociedad

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior converted penalties to help earn Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad after the host was repeatedly denied by the woodwork in La Liga on Saturday.

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

Mbappé put the result beyond doubt in the 75th after a video review by the referee determined that Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu stomped on Vinícius’ 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 champion's defense only to be turned back by the goal-frame.

“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 its other two outings in the Spanish league. Its first away victory put it one point behind leader Barcelona before it visits Girona on Sunday. Madrid opens its Champions League defense against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Sociedad matched Madrid’s pace and punch in a frenetic first half.

Luka Sucic hit the post twice, including a missile that rattled the crossbar in the 25th, and Sheraldo Becker also sent a ball off the crossbar.

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

Sucic sent another ball off the post from a pass by Umar Sadiq just seconds after halftime.

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

But Sociedad was undone when Gómez raised his arm above his head and blocked a shot by Arda Guler, allowing Vinícius to go to the spot where he fired right past Remiro. Mbappé then beat Remiro when he shot one way as the goalie dove the other.

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

Sociedad has lost all three homes games this season.

Madrid forward Brahim Díaz was substituted in the first half with a leg muscle issue.

Jesus Navas rifled in a powerful shot from a tight angle to give Sevilla its first victory of the campaign after edging Getafe 1-0 at home.

The 38-year-old wing back won the European Championship with Spain this summer, adding to his 2010 World Cup. Afterwards, he announced he was retiring from international soccer and he would likewise retire from club competition at the end of 2024.

His goal in the 23rd minute relieved some pressure on new coach Francisco García Pimienta.

Sevilla defender Marcão was substituted in the first half after taking a hard knock to the head.

Javi Puado scored a hat trick to lead Espanyol to a 3-2 win at home over Alaves and secure a second consecutive win for the Barcelona-based club that spent last season in the second division.

Puado steered in a low cross to open the scoring in the 21st. He struck again with a glancing header to restore the host's lead in the 56th after Tomas Conechny equalized for Alaves.

The Espanyol forward took the winner from the spot after Nahuel Tenaglia pulled it even at 2-2. Puado converted the penalty earned after goalkeeper Antonio Sivera tripped Walid Cheddira in the area.

Also, Ayoze Pérez scored late for Villarreal to win at Mallorca 2-1. That was his third goal in five games since Ayoze joined Villarreal from Real Betis in the summer.

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Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger, left and Real Madrid's Eder Militao react during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe is tackled by Real Sociedad's Jon Aramburu during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal with a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal with a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal with a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal from a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Vinicius Junior, 2nd left, after scoring his side's second goal from a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Gunmen attacked several locations in Mali's capital and other cities on Saturday in a possible coordinated assault, residents and authorities said.

Mali’s army said in a statement that “unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks” in Bamako and that soldiers were “engaged in eliminating the attackers.” It said in another statement later the situation was under control.

An Associated Press journalist in Bamako heard sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle gunfire coming from Modibo Keïta International Airport, around 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center, and saw a helicopter over nearby neighborhoods. The airport is adjacent to an air base used by Mali's air force. A resident living near the airport also reported gunfire and three helicopters patrolling overhead.

The U.S. Embassy in Bamako issued a security alert citing reports of explosions and gunfire near Kati and the international airport, and urged U.S. citizens to shelter in place and avoid travel there.

Mali has been plagued by insurgencies fought by affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, as well as a separatist rebellion in the north.

Residents in other cities in central and northern Mali reported gunfire and blasts on Saturday morning.

A resident of Kati, a town near Bamako that is home to Mali’s main military base, said he was woken by the sound of gunfire and explosions. Gen. Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali’s military junta, resides in Kati.

Videos on social media showed militant convoys in trucks and motorcycles moving through the town's deserted streets, while residents looked on fearfully.

Residents of Sevare and Mopti, two towns in central Mali, also reported attacks by gunmen.

Other videos in the northern towns of Kidal and Gao showed gunfire exchanges in the streets, with dead bodies lying on the ground.

Gunmen entered Kidal, taking control of some neighborhoods and leading to exchanges of fire with the army, a former mayor of the town told the AP by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad separatist movement, said in a post on Facebook that its forces had taken control of Kidal as well as some areas in Gao, another northeastern city. The AP could not independently verify his claim.

Kidal had long served as a stronghold of the separatist rebellion before being taken by Malian government forces and Russian mercenaries in 2023. Its capture marked a significant symbolic victory for the junta and its Russian allies.

The Tuareg-led separatists have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali.

A resident of Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, said gunfire and explosions started in the early hours of Saturday and could still be heard in the late morning.

“The force of the explosions is making the doors and windows of my house shake. I’m scared out of my wits,” the resident told AP by phone. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns for his safety. The resident said the gunfire came from the army camp and the airport, which are right next to each other.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said the assault seems to be the largest coordinated attack in years in Mali.

“It’s especially concerning that JNIM (al-Qaida affiliated group) apparently has been coordinating today’s attacks with Tuareg rebels. Jihadists and Tuareg rebels teamed up in 2012 when they overran northern Mali, sparking the region's security crisis.” Laessing said.

Mali, alongside neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has long been battling armed groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Following military coups, the juntas in the three countries have turned from Western allies to Russia for help combating Islamic militants. But the security situation has worsened in recent times, analysts say, with a record number of attacks by militants. Government forces have also been accused of killing civilians they suspect of collaborating with militants.

In 2024, an al-Qaida-linked group claimed an attack on Bamako’s airport and a military training camp in the capital, killing scores of people.

An ariel view of Bamako, Mali, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo)