By Kylian Mbappe finally opened his LaLiga account for Real Madrid on Sunday, scoring twice to lead his team to a 2-0 victory over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The French striker, who had previously struggled to find the net in the league, broke his drought in spectacular fashion. His first goal came in the 67th minute, courtesy of a brilliant backheel assist from Federico Valverde. The Uruguayan midfielder’s creative play left Mbappe with a clear shot on goal, which he confidently converted.
Mbappe doubled his tally just eight minutes later from the penalty spot. After a VAR review awarded Real Madrid a penalty, Vinicius Junior stepped aside to allow Mbappe the opportunity to secure his brace.
The 25-year-old’s performance earned him a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd when he was substituted for Luka Modric in the 84th minute. This marked a significant moment for Mbappe, who had previously scored for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta but had gone scoreless in his first three LaLiga matches against Mallorca, Valladolid, and Las Palmas.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with Mbappe’s performance, stating, “Kylian showed his quality today. We knew it was just a matter of time before he found his rhythm in LaLiga.”
The victory keeps Real Madrid in close pursuit of Barcelona in the LaLiga standings. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona currently leads the table with a perfect record of four wins from four matches, while Real Madrid sits in second place with 8 points, level with Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.
Real Madrid’s next fixture is scheduled for Saturday, September 14, when they travel to face Real Sociedad in their fifth LaLiga match of the 2024-25 season. The team will now enter a short break due to the international window.
As Mbappe continues to settle into Spanish football, his performance against Betis suggests he is beginning to find his footing in LaLiga. Real Madrid fans will be hoping this brace marks the start of a prolific scoring run for their high-profile summer signing.
