Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to climb to third in the La Liga standings.
Arda Guler opened the scoring with a spectacular strike before Mbappe added two goals, including a brilliant solo effort and a Panenka-style penalty. Yan Diomande completed the victory with a powerful long-range finish.
The result moved Jose Mourinho’s side above Real Betis, while Barcelona maintained a six-point lead over Real Madrid ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico at Camp Nou. Atletico Madrid sit second between the two Spanish giants.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho praised his team’s performance and highlighted the progress they were making under his leadership.
“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.
Guler Opens Scoring With Stunning Strike
Real Madrid started cautiously, but the game was overshadowed early on by a controversial incident involving Guler.
The Turkish midfielder appeared to elbow Sevilla’s Peque midway through the first half, but the incident went unpunished, prompting complaints from the visitors.
Madrid broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Jude Bellingham released Diomande down the flank. The Ivorian then set up Guler, who produced a superb finish over goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and into the top corner.
Sevilla had defended well before the opener, but Madrid’s attacking quality began to make the difference.
Mbappe Shines With Two Goals
Mbappe nearly scored after a rapid run towards goal, only for his low effort to be saved.
The French forward eventually doubled Madrid’s advantage with a spectacular individual goal. After receiving a backheel from Bellingham, he executed a roulette turn inside the penalty area, evaded the goalkeeper and calmly rolled the ball into the net.
Sevilla protested that striker Robbie Ure had been fouled during the build-up, but their complaints did not change the decision.
Mbappe scored his second goal from the penalty spot after going down under contact from Andres Castrin inside the area. He chipped the ball into the net with a Panenka-style finish to extend Madrid’s lead and register his ninth league goal of the season.
The forward is also hoping to win the Ballon d’Or later in October.
Sevilla Raise Officiating Complaints
Sevilla pulled a goal back through Manuel Bueno, whose neat finish briefly offered the visitors hope of a comeback.
However, Diomande ended those hopes with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area to seal Madrid’s 4-1 victory. The goal was his second since joining the Spanish club from RB Leipzig during the summer.
Sevilla manager Luis Garcia Plaza was unhappy with the officiating, arguing that Guler should have been sent off for the earlier incident.
He said his team had been denied the opportunity to play against 10 men and suggested the decision significantly affected the contest.
Mourinho, meanwhile, said he had not seen replays that proved Guler had elbowed Peque.
Real Madrid Look Ahead to El Clasico
Madrid’s victory comes amid growing tensions between the club and Spanish football authorities over refereeing decisions.
Last weekend, Vinicius Junior was sent off for pulling an opponent’s hair, prompting criticism from Madrid supporters over officiating in Spain.
Fans at the Santiago Bernabeu also protested against La Liga president Javier Tebas following his comments comparing Madrid’s approach to criticising referees with the propaganda tactics of Nazi official Joseph Goebbels.
Madrid and Mourinho have repeatedly expressed frustration with refereeing in recent weeks, following a trophyless period over the past two seasons.
The focus now turns to next weekend’s El Clasico against Barcelona, who remain six points ahead of Madrid after beating Real Betis on Saturday.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Sociedad climbed to fifth with a 5-2 win away to bottom-placed Malaga. Celta Vigo defeated Alaves 2-1, while Osasuna beat Racing Santander 2-0.
