Mbappe Scores Twice as Real Madrid Thrash Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Sevilla.
Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4-1 on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to help his side climb to third place in La Liga.
Arda Guler opened the scoring with a spectacular strike before Mbappe added two goals. Yan Diomande completed the victory with a powerful effort from outside the penalty area.
The result moved Madrid above Real Betis in the standings. However, Barcelona remained six points ahead of their rivals before next weekend’s Clasico at Camp Nou. Atletico Madrid occupied second place after Barcelona’s victory over Betis on Saturday.
Guler and Mbappe Lead Madrid’s Attack
Madrid initially struggled to break through Sevilla’s defence. However, Guler changed the momentum in the 30th minute with a brilliant finish.
Jude Bellingham moved the ball wide to Diomande, who then found Guler near the edge of the penalty area. The Turkish midfielder produced a superb lofted shot that flew beyond goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and into the top corner.
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Mbappe soon added to Madrid’s advantage. Bellingham backheeled the ball into the French forward’s path, allowing him to produce a skilful roulette turn inside the box. He then evaded the goalkeeper and calmly finished.
The French star scored again from the penalty spot after going down following contact from Andres Castrin. Mbappe used a Panenka-style chip to send the ball into the net, taking his league tally to nine goals for the season.
Sevilla briefly threatened a comeback when Manuel Bueno scored. However, Diomande restored Madrid’s three-goal cushion with a powerful long-range strike to seal the 4-1 victory.
Sevilla Question Guler’s Unpunished Incident
The match also featured controversy over a first-half incident involving Guler and Sevilla forward Peque. Guler appeared to elbow the Sevilla player, but the referee did not send him off.
Sevilla coach Luis Garcia Plaza expressed frustration after the match, arguing that his team should have played against 10 men for much of the contest.
He said Madrid deserved to win the match with 11 players on each side but insisted that the incident had denied Sevilla a fair opportunity to compete.
Garcia Plaza also suggested that the decision might have been influenced by the upcoming Clasico. Meanwhile, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said he had not seen replays that proved Guler had elbowed Peque.
Mourinho Praises Team Effort
Mourinho praised his players’ performance and highlighted the importance of teamwork as the squad continued to develop.
“We played a great game… we are a team and we work to improve, we’ve only been together for a very short time,” he told Real Madrid TV.
He also acknowledged the pressure that comes with managing Madrid, saying the club’s scale makes it difficult to enjoy the same calm that coaches experience elsewhere.
Madrid played without suspended Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, who received a red card for hair-pulling the previous weekend. Diomande took his place on the left, while Guler featured in midfield.
The earlier dismissal had also fuelled criticism of Spanish refereeing among Madrid supporters. Fans at the Santiago Bernabeu had protested against La Liga president Javier Tebas following his comments about the club’s criticism of officials.
Other La Liga Results
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad recorded a 5-2 victory away from home to rise to fifth place. Celta Vigo defeated Alaves 2-1, while Osasuna beat Racing Santander 2-0.
Madrid will now turn their attention to the Clasico, where they will look to reduce the gap to Barcelona in the La Liga standings.
