Real Madrid secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu, moving up to third place in La Liga. Kylian Mbappe was the standout performer, scoring twice, including a striking solo effort and a chipped penalty, while Arda Guler and Yan Diomande also found the net for Jose Mourinho’s side.
The match began with a tense atmosphere as Guler narrowly avoided an early red card after an elbow on Sevilla’s Peque went unpunished by the referees. Guler later opened the scoring with a spectacular goal that set the tone for Real Madrid's dominant display. Mbappe extended the lead with a remarkable solo strike, weaving past defenders before finishing decisively. He completed his brace by calmly converting a Panenka-style penalty. Diomande added a powerful goal to seal the result, helping Madrid overtake their rivals Real Betis in the league standings.
The victory places Real Madrid behind only league leaders Barcelona, who remain six points clear ahead of their upcoming Clasico clash. Atletico Madrid currently occupy second place, positioning Spain’s football giants within a close competitive range as the season progresses.
Following the match, Mourinho praised his team’s cohesion despite their limited time playing together. “We played a great game... we are a team and we work to improve,” Mourinho said in a post-match interview. He acknowledged the pressures unique to managing Real Madrid, noting the heightened scrutiny and expectations compared to other clubs.
The game also took place amid ongoing tensions surrounding officiating in Spanish football. Real’s Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior was suspended after receiving a red card for hair-pulling in the previous fixture, sparking protests from Madrid supporters at the stadium. Fans directed chants and banners against La Liga president Javier Tebas after his controversial comparison of the club’s criticism of referees to Nazi propaganda.
This time, Sevilla appeared to have grounds for complaint, particularly concerning the unpunished foul by Guler. Sevilla coach Luis Garcia Plaza expressed frustration saying his team was effectively reduced to playing against ten men from an early stage. “There’s a match that’s 11 against 1-1 where they deserve to win, without any doubt, but we were denied the chance to play another match,” Garcia Plaza stated. “We were denied the chance to play 11 against 10 from the 25th minute.”
Despite the grievances aired by Sevilla, Real Madrid controlled the remainder of the game with clinical finishing and tactical organization, securing a vital win as they pursue a return to title contention under Mourinho’s stewardship.