In a display echoing their previous encounter against Las Palmas, Kylian Mbappé once again played a vital role in Real Madrid’s victory. Thanks to their spectacular hat-trick, the team from the Spanish capital maintains its exclusive lead at the top of LaLiga.
No surprises occurred during the 21st day of LaLiga, where the indisputable leader, Real Madrid, easily dominated Valladolid, last in the standings. Mbappé’s impressive performance, with his three goals, allowed the Madrid team to distance themselves from Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona in the ranking.
The match kicked off at the José Zorrilla Stadium, where Real Madrid initially looked a little behind, an unusual start given their dominant status in the league. The team faced several early threats from Valladolid, with Thibaut Courtois playing an instrumental role in keeping the score level with decisive interventions in the 1st and 22nd minutes.
Read more:
Mbappé shines as Real Madrid extend their La Liga lead
However, after overcoming the storm from the home side, Carlo Ancelotti’s players began to find their rhythm. In the 29th minute, three key players – Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé – combined their efforts to produce a magnificent sequence which led to the first goal. Mbappé, who had already shone during the victory over Las Palmas, demonstrated his growing talent for scoring with the white jersey.
As the second half unfolded, the class of the French phenomenon became even more evident. With Rodrygo guiding the ball and luring defenders, Mbappé sneaked in to take advantage of a clever pass from his teammate. He again converted with precision, scoring his second goal in the 56th minute.
With a comfortable advantage established, the Madrid team controlled the ball and had few problems thereafter. Their domination even resulted in a third goal late in the match. In the 90th minute, Valladolid’s Mario Martín Rielves made a reckless challenge on Bellingham, resulting in a red card and a penalty for Madrid.
-
Read more:
Valladolid vs Real Madrid: LaLiga summary and result
Although Bellingham initially took charge of the penalty, he generously passed the ball to a teammate, allowing Mbappé to add a final goal to his hat-trick. Thus, the ‘Tortuga’ once again found the net, bringing the score to 3-0.
In the end, the reigning LaLiga and UEFA Champions League champions took their points tally to 49, extending their lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid by four points, while maintaining a gap ten points on FC Barcelona, pending the Catalans’ match against Valencia, who are also fighting to avoid relegation.
Read more:
Mbappé shines with first Real Madrid hat-trick in dominant win over Valladolid
