Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid swept Sevilla aside 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, climbing to third in La Liga and cutting the gap to leaders Barcelona to six points a week before El Clasico.
Arda Guler opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a superb first-time strike into the top corner from the edge of the area, after Yan Diomande picked him out. Seven minutes later Mbappe doubled the lead, producing a brilliant turn on the edge of the Sevilla box before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net, as Reuters reported. Jose Mourinho had handed Endrick his first start of the season and recalled Guler in place of the suspended Vinicius Junior, and his side were in complete control long before half-time.
Mbappe takes the game away from Sevilla
Madrid stayed relentless after the break. Mbappe won a penalty on 63 minutes after he was fouled by Andres Castrin inside the box, then stepped up and calmly chipped a Panenka down the middle to complete his brace and effectively settle the contest. It took his tally to 11 goals in 11 matches across all competitions this season, a response in kind after Lamine Yamal had starred for Barcelona on Saturday. Sevilla substitute Manu Bueno pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining, but any hope of a comeback lasted barely two minutes: Aurelien Tchouameni set up Diomande, who restored the three-goal lead with a thunderous strike on 82 minutes, as SuperSport noted.
Sevilla will point to an early moment of controversy, when Guler appeared to elbow Peque midway through the first half and escaped punishment, before going on to score the opener. On the night, though, there was no real argument about the result: Thibaut Courtois was barely tested, and Madrid's front line was simply too quick and too clinical for a Sevilla side who stay sixth on 14 points.
So what does it mean?
Real climb to third on 21 points, one behind Atletico Madrid and six behind Barcelona, who thrashed Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday to make it nine straight wins. That sets up next weekend's Clasico at Camp Nou perfectly: win, and Mourinho's side are suddenly within three points of the leaders with momentum behind them; lose, and the gap becomes nine and the title race starts to look like a procession. Mourinho struck a measured tone afterwards, telling Real Madrid TV his team played a great game, that they are a team and work to improve, and that they have only been together a very short time. The backdrop at the Bernabeu was tense off the pitch too, with home fans chanting and holding banners against La Liga president Javier Tebas, days after Madrid demanded Tebas resign over his Nazi propaganda comparison — a row that will only add edge to the build-up this week.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: This was the most complete Madrid performance of the Mourinho era so far — Guler pulling the strings, Diomande tormenting his full-back, and Mbappe playing like a man determined to own the Clasico before it has even kicked off. Eleven goals in 11 games is not a hot streak any more; it is his standard. Barcelona are still the team to catch, but for the first time this season Madrid travel to Camp Nou looking like equals rather than chasers. Can Mbappe deliver again on the biggest stage next weekend, or will Yamal and Barcelona pull away? Tell us in the comments.
