Real Madrid 4:2 Sevilla
Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde set the tone with two stunning goals as Carlo Ancelotti’s team ended the year on a high note with a win. At their familiar Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid showcased dominance throughout the match. With Barcelona overtaken, Ancelotti’s side now climbs to second place in La Liga after an effortless victory against Sevilla.
The reigning champions secured a 4-2 win in Sunday’s league match.
Mbappe and Valverde scored early, and Rodrigo made it 3-0 within 34 minutes. Though Isak Romero reduced the gap, Brahim Diaz added Real’s fourth goal in the second half. Late in the game, Dodi Lukebakio scored another for Sevilla, but it wasn’t enough.
This match marked the farewell of Jesus Navas, who retired from professional football after playing a record 705 matches for Sevilla over two decades. Before kickoff, the 39-year-old Spaniard received a ‘Guard of Honor’ from both teams.
After last week’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup win, Real Madrid wrapped up the year with another victory. FIFA’s Player of the Year, Vinicius Jr., missed the match due to suspension, but his absence didn’t trouble Real at all.
Real Madrid now has 40 points from 18 matches with 12 wins and 4 draws. Atletico Madrid leads the table with 41 points from the same number of games, while Barcelona has dropped to third with 38 points from 19 matches.
Throughout the game, Real had 16 shots, 8 of which were on target, compared to Sevilla’s 10 shots, with 5 on target.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 10th minute through a spectacular goal by Mbappe. Receiving Rodrigo’s pass outside the box, the World Cup-winning forward unleashed a powerful right-footed shot to find the back of the net.
This marked Mbappe’s fourth consecutive match with a goal for the club. Since joining Real last summer after his PSG contract ended, Mbappe has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish champions.
He missed a golden chance to double the lead in the 17th minute, sending Lucas Vazquez’s pass over the crossbar from six yards out.
Federico Valverde doubled the lead in the 20th minute with another stunning goal. After a short corner, the ball found its way to Valverde through Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga. The Uruguayan star unleashed a bullet shot from 30 yards out that hit the net.
Three minutes later, Rodrigo came close to scoring, but his powerful shot from inside the box narrowly missed the post.
Rodrigo found the net in the 34th minute, scoring with his first touch after receiving Vazquez’s pass in the box.
Sevilla responded immediately with a goal. Isak Romero, unmarked in the box, headed in a cross from the right to make it 3-1.
Lucas Vazquez nearly added to the scoreline in the 43rd minute, but Sevilla’s goalkeeper made a fine save. Moments later, a shot from Dani Ceballos was blocked by a defender.
In the 53rd minute, Brahim Diaz restored Real’s three-goal lead. Receiving a pass from Mbappe, Brahim found the net from close range, beating the Sevilla goalkeeper.
Jesus Navas entered the field to a standing ovation in the 65th minute as a substitute. In the 73rd minute, his pass set up Romero for a shot that hit the post.
Mbappe’s 82nd-minute shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. Sevilla’s Lukebakio scored in the 85th minute, dribbling into the box from the left and beating Thibaut Courtois, but Real’s victory was never in doubt.
