Real Ready for 'El Clásico'

Real Madrid responded to their traditional rivals Barcelona ahead of the anticipated Clásico next Sunday by thrashing visitors Sevilla 4-1 on Saturday in the ninth round of the Spanish league. The match featured a brace from French star Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé scored his two goals in the 37th and 63rd minutes, both from penalty kicks, raising his tally to nine goals at the top of the scoring charts. Arda Güler opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 30th minute, and promising Ivorian forward Youssouf Fofana sealed the victory in the 82nd minute. Manuel Bueno scored the only goal for the visitors in the 80th minute.

This was the second consecutive win for José Mourinho’s side and their seventh in La Liga this season, lifting their points total to 21 and placing them third, six points behind leaders and defending champions Barcelona, who crushed fellow Andalusian side Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sevilla remained on 14 points in sixth place.

The Spanish champions, who host German side RB Leipzig tomorrow (Wednesday) in Matchday 3 of the new Unified League format of the UEFA Champions League, entered the fixture following a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Italian club Roma in Matchday 2. Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior was absent from Mourinho’s lineup as he began serving a four-match suspension following his red card against Villarreal in the previous round and his excessive protests against the referee. However, Vinícius’s absence did not have a major impact, as the home side delivered what may be their best league performance so far.

Real Madrid took the lead in the 30th minute with a stunning rocket shot from Güler, who finished off a pass from Fofana with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box. Mbappé doubled the lead seven minutes later with an even more spectacular goal. Fofana played the ball to Jude Bellingham, who cleverly laid it off with a heel to Mbappé at the edge of the area. Mbappé then executed a brilliant turn, dribbled past defender Kike Salas, and calmly finished past the goalkeeper into an empty net (37).

Mbappé secured the result by adding his second goal of the match and Real’s third from a penalty kick in the 63rd minute, which he won himself after Andrés López fouled him in the box. López then attempted a Panenka-style penalty, which was saved. Sevilla pulled one back in the 80th minute after Mbappé lost possession near the Real Madrid penalty area. The ball fell to Belgian substitute Lucas Stassin, who passed it to Bueno, who slid a shot past the right side of towering Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Real restored their three-goal lead less than two minutes later. A precise cross from French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni found Fofana in ample space. The young player, who joined the club from Leipzig this summer, scored his second goal for Real Madrid with a right-footed shot to the goalkeeper’s right in the 82nd minute.

Real Sociedad were the biggest beneficiaries of Sevilla’s defeat, moving up to fifth place after a comprehensive 5-2 win over host Málaga. Sociedad’s points total rose to 16, three points behind fourth-placed Real Betis.

Celta Vigo defeated visitors Deportivo Alavés 2-1, lifting their points total to 11 and placing them eighth, ahead of Alavés on goal difference. Alavés missed a crucial opportunity to move into the top four.

Osasuna also started their matches on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Racing Santander. Croatian striker Ante Budimir scored in the 9th minute from a penalty kick, and Asier Osambela added the second in the 88th minute. Osasuna moved up to 11 points in 10th place, while Santander remained on 8 points in 16th.