Real Madrid 4-2 Sevilla: Kylian Mbappe stars as Liga champions enjoy big win in six-goal thriller

Kylian Mbappe scored his 10th Liga goal of the season in stunning fashion as Real Madrid returned to winning ways and moved to second in the table with a 4-2 win against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Frenchman opening the scoring to give Los Blancos the lead inside 10 minutes, with a stunning strike from outside of the box finding the top corner, leaving Sevilla goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez with no chance to save it.

Madrid doubled their lead 10 minutes later with yet another rocket strike, this time from Federico Valverde who fired from 30 yards out. Rodrygo made it three in the 34th minute as he finished off a lovely team move to score his third goal in as many games.

The visitors were handed a way back into the game just before half-time when Isaac Romero headed home Juanlu Sanchez’s cross just seconds after Madrid’s third.

But that hope died after half-time when a neat team move controlled by Mbappe saw the Frenchman lay the ball on a plate for Brahim Diaz to slot home.

The 75,000-plus crowd all took to their feet in the 65th minute as 39-year-old Jesus Navas entered the field for the final time in his career and was handed the captain’s armband, with the Sevilla legend retiring after the full-time whistle.

Sevilla scored their second goal of the game in the closing stages of the second half, when a superb through-ball by Peque Fernandez found Dodi Lukebakio, who squeezed his shot past Thibaut Courtois.

La Liga now takes a two-week break with Madrid next on the field against Valencia on Friday, January 3, 2025, while Sevilla are in Copa de Rey action against Almeria on January 4.

While it was a masterclass from Real Madrid, asides from some sloppy moments and loss of concentration, the main talking point deserves to be focused on the 39-year-old veteran who entered the field for the final time in his career.

Sevilla boss Garcia Pimienta said in his pre-match press conference that he expected the reception to be “spectacular” and in front of a 75,000 crowd, Navas was given the reception worthy of heroes, with a guard of honour and standing ovation during his substitution.

Making his 705th and final appearance, Navas, who featured 123 times for Manchester City between 2013-2017 bid farewell to a legendary career spanning over 20 years, predominantly in a Sevilla shirt.

It has not been often that Kylian Mbappe has looked like he was enjoying playing and whilst he showed annoyance at not grabbing a second or third of the match, he showed excellence and had moments of pure class.

Whilst we were denied the strikeforce of Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, with Vinicius having to serve a suspension, we were given hints of what we could be looking forward to as we have Mbappe finding form.

Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Vazquez 8, Tchouameni 7, Rudiger 7, Camavinga 7, Ceballos 7, Valverde 7, Diaz 7, Bellingham 7, Rodrygo 7, Mbappe 8 Subs: Asencio 6, Arda Guler 6, Modric 6

Sevilla: Fernandez 7, Gudelj 5, Bade 6, Salas 6, Carmona 5, Romero 7, Lokonga 5, Agoume 6, Sanchez 6, Idumbo 6, Lukebakio 6 Subs: Montiel 6, Pascual 6, Bueno 6, Peque 6, Navas 6

10′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 SEVILLA (MBAPPE 10′) That is beautiful from Kylian Mbappe. It’s a fast attack by Real Madrid. Rodrygo and Diaz connect on the left flank and pass to Mbappe, who’s just outside the box. He rockets it into the top corner and Fernandez has no chance of saving that.

20′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 SEVILLA (VALVERDE 20′) WOW, WOW, WOW. A corner is played short and it finds Federico Valverde outside of the box and it’s a stunner as he finds the back of the net. You’re going to want to watch that one back.

34′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-0 SEVILLA (RODRYGO 34′) It was coming and moments after Rudiger clears a chance for Sevilla, Real Madrid go down the other end and score after a nicely worked team move. It’s an excellent finish by Rodrygo and he gets his third goal in as many games.

35′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-1 SEVILLA (ROMERO 35′) Who had that on the cards? Seconds after the restart, Sevilla attack down the right hand side and it’s an excellent cross from Juanlu Sanchez, which Isaac Romeo heads home.

53′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 4-1 SEVILLA (DIAZ 53′) It’s another wonderful goal as Real Madrid get their fourth of the afternoon. Mbappe toys with Sevilla on the outside of the box, he finds Vazquez on the right flank, and he returns it to Mbappe and the Frenchman lays it on a plate for Brahim Diaz, who takes it well.

65′ CHANGE FOR SEVILLA Here he comes for one final time. He takes the armband as he replaces Ibumbo and the whole of the stadium are on their feet. It might not have been the circumstances he would have liked to come on but what a moment to remember for Jesus Navas.

85′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 4-2 SEVILLA (LUKEBAKIO 85′) Sevilla get another goal. A superb through ball from Peque Fernandez finds Dodi Lukebakio, who races into the box and squeezes the ball past Courtois.