Mbappé Scores Twice as Real Madrid Beat Sevilla 4-1 Ahead of Clásico, Militão Returns
Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, October 18, in La Liga. Kylian Mbappé scored twice. Arda Güler and Yan Diomande also scored. Defender Éder Militão returned to action after his injury. The win lifts Madrid to third in the table with 21 points, six behind leaders Barcelona.
The match started quietly. Sevilla had an early chance in the 15th minute, when Gabriel Suazo combined with Rubén Vargas inside the box. Midway through the first half, Güler appeared to elbow Sevilla's Peque, but he was not punished. He then made the most of his luck. In the 30th minute, Güler scored a spectacular opening goal.
Mbappé doubled the lead seven minutes later. His goal in the 37th minute was a sensational individual strike. He used a roulette on the edge of Sevilla's box before finishing. Sevilla felt that striker Robbie Ure had been fouled in the build-up, but the complaint was ignored. It was Mbappé's ninth league goal of the season. Madrid led 2-0 at half-time.
Mbappé scored again in the 63rd minute. He chipped a Panenka penalty down the middle to make it 3-0. Sevilla pulled one back in the 80th minute. Manu Bueno scored a neat strike after Mbappé lost possession deep inside his own half. Madrid responded within two minutes. In the 82nd minute, Diomande thumped a shot into the top corner from outside the box. He received a cross-field pass from Aurélien Tchouaméni. It was the Ivorian winger's second goal since joining from RB Leipzig this summer. Madrid will face Leipzig next in the Champions League.
Militão's return was another boost for coach José Mourinho. The defender had been out for a long time after hamstring surgery in April. Madrid had won three of their last five league games before this match. Mourinho and the club have complained about Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, and Sevilla had more to complain about this time.
Madrid moved above Real Betis, who lost 5-2 to Barcelona on Saturday. Atlético Madrid are second. Sevilla stay sixth with 14 points. Mbappé hopes to be crowned the best player in the world at the Ballon d'Or ceremony later this month.
Madrid now turn to El Clásico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on October 25.