Mbappe’s goal helps the hosts move above Barcelona in La Liga

Kylian Mbappe scored his fourth goal in four starts with a long-range strike to give Real Madrid a 4-2 win at home to Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday.

Madrid’s top scorer Mbappe, who also scored the opener in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup in Qatar, fired into the area from a central position outside the box after 10 minutes, firing a fierce shot past goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez.

The France striker missed the 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano with a thigh injury eight days earlier but returned to score a memorable 13th goal in 23 appearances in all competitions in 2024/25.

What a goal by Kylian Mbappé 🤯

The Frenchman scores from distance to give Real Madrid the lead against Sevilla 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/1l9CZwRPLz

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 22, 2024

Madrid vs Sevilla

Summer signing Mbappe could have had a second goal seven minutes later, sending a shot over the bar from Lucas Vasquez’s cross.

Federico Valverde made up for that miss with a sensational finish in the 20th minute, picking up possession in a similar position to Mbappe’s goal and firing home after a short routine corner.

Rodrygo added a relatively routine third for Madrid 11 minutes before the break, completing a shrewd team move that included Jude Bellingham, Vasquez and Brahim Diaz.

Sevilla took the shine off that goal with one of their own minutes later when Isaac Romero headed in Juanlu Sanchez’s cross, but Diaz scored Madrid’s fourth after Mbappe’s pass eight minutes after half-time.

Dodi Lukebakio hit back for Sevilla five minutes before the restart, beating Thibaut Courtois with a shot at the Madrid goalkeeper’s near post five minutes before the restart.

A special shot by Fede Valverde 😱

The Uruguayan scores from a distance and doubles Real Madrid’s advantage 💥 pic.twitter.com/G606b7lKSy

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 22, 2024

LaLiga table: Atletico, Real Madrid, Barcelona

Madrid’s third straight home win after a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona on October 26 saw them move two points clear of Hansi Flick’s side.

They are a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who secured a 2-1 comeback win against Barca on Saturday with Alexander Sorloth’s 96th minute strike.

Their opponents suffered a third successive league defeat away from home, although they led 3-1 at Atleti after 29 minutes before losing 4-3 on 8 December.

Madrid next play away at second-bottom Valencia on January 3 (20:00 GMT), while Atleti play their next league game at home to Osasuna on January 12 (15:15).

Barca have lost four and drawn two of their last seven LaLiga games. The next game in the league is away to Getafe on January 18 (8 p.m.).