Kylian Mbappe extended his scoring run with a stunning goal in Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Sevilla in La Liga, ending the year on a high after describing early December as his “rock bottom.”
Mbappe fired a right-footed shot into the top corner 10 minutes into the match, marking his fourth goal in as many games across all competitions and his sixth in Madrid’s last eight matches. After a difficult start with his new club, Mbappé revealed that his lowest moment came on December 4, when he missed a penalty in a 2-1 league defeat to Athletic Bilbao.
Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, and Brahim Díaz also found the net in Real Madrid’s convincing home win. Valverde scored in the 20th minute, followed by Rodrygo in the 34th, before Sevilla pulled one back through Isaac Romero in the 35th. Díaz restored Madrid’s cushion in the 53rd, with Dodi Lukebakio adding a late goal for the visitors in the 85th at the Santiago Bernabéu.
With this win, the Galacticos moved to second place in the table, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
I think we now know each other better,” Mbappe said after the match. “I’ve joined the team and that changed a lot of things. The settling-in period is over, as the coach says. I feel very comfortable in the team and I play better with the others on the field. The team is playing much better.”
🚨 LA LIGA TABLE UPDATE. pic.twitter.com/HLysJCH3Xc
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 22, 2024
Madrid will next take on Valencia on January 3 in a rescheduled match, originally postponed due to the devastating floods that struck Valencia in October. Meanwhile, Sevilla, currently 14th in the league, had won their previous two games across all competitions.
The match also marked the final appearance for Sevilla and Spain legend Jesús Navas, who is retiring at the end of the year. Players and fans at the Santiago Bernabéu honored the player with a touching tribute. Both teams formed a guard of honor as Navas entered the field, and Madrid’s veteran midfielder Luka Modrić presented him with a signed Real Madrid jersey. The ceremony concluded with a standing ovation from the crowd. Navas later came on as a substitute midway through the second half.
Read More: Bad News for Chelsea and Arsenal as Nico Williams Has New Club in Sight
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
