Kylian Mbappe showcased his brilliance on Saturday, scoring his first hat-trick for Real Madrid in a commanding 3-0 win against bottom-club Real Valladolid. The victory at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium extends Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the La Liga standings.
The French sensation opened the scoring in the 30th minute. Mbappe played a clever one-two with Jude Bellingham, darting into the box to collect the return pass and firing past goalkeeper Karl Hein. The goal was a testament to the budding partnership between Mbappe and the young English midfielder.
In the 56th minute, Mbappe doubled the lead. A swift counter-attack saw Rodrygo release Mbappe down the left flank. With pace and precision, he curled a low strike just inside the far post, leaving the Valladolid defense in his wake.
Real Madrid sealed the victory in stoppage time. After Mario Martin was shown a red card for a studs-up tackle on Bellingham inside the box, Mbappe stepped up to convert the penalty, completing his hat-trick and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
“I’m happy for the hat-trick but more pleased with the team’s performance,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV after the match. “It was important to win today after Atlético’s draw. We played well, scored the first goal through a great team effort, and managed the game effectively.”
The win puts Real Madrid at 49 points, four points ahead of second-placed Atlético Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal earlier on Saturday. Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao trail behind, both on 39 points with a game in hand.
Mbappe’s recent form has been exceptional. After a slow start following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, he has netted 15 goals in La Liga and 21 overall this season. His recent performances have propelled him to second in the La Liga scoring charts, just one goal shy of Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.
With Mbappe hitting his stride, Real Madrid looks poised to maintain their lead in the title race. Fans will be eager to see if he can continue his scoring spree and help secure another championship for Los Blancos.
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Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick gives Real Madrid easy win at Valladolid
cgtn.com
