La Liga: Kylian Mbappé Shines with Brace as Real Madrid Thrashes Valencia 4-0
Kylian Mbappé delivered a dazzling performance on Saturday, scoring two goals as Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 victory over Valencia, extending their lead at the top of LaLiga to seven points. The triumph sets the stage for Madrid’s upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool on Tuesday.
The French superstar opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a penalty kick, awarded after a VAR review determined that Eder Militao’s header had struck Valencia defender César Tarrega’s hand. Despite missing a penalty in the previous week’s Clasico against Barcelona, Mbappé confidently sent Valencia goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala the wrong way to secure his 12th league goal of the season.
Just 12 minutes later, Mbappé doubled his tally, volleying home a precise cross from Arda Güler. With this brace, he showcased his exceptional finishing ability and further solidified his position as the top scorer in LaLiga.
Jude Bellingham added a third goal just before halftime, striking a powerful shot from distance to find the bottom corner, while Álvaro Carreras capped the scoring in the 82nd minute with a thunderous effort that rifled into the top right corner. This victory marks a significant boost for Madrid as they continue to assert their dominance in the league.
Despite being in the relegation zone and winless in six league games, Valencia initially set up to defend. However, they struggled to contain a relentless Madrid attack. Vinícius Júnior, who started on the left after publicly apologizing for a sulk during the Clasico, missed an opportunity to extend the lead further when his penalty was saved by Agirrezabala.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso opted for a strong lineup, prioritizing the match despite their commanding position at the top of the table. The team controlled the game with ease, and even when Valencia’s Javi Guerra threatened Thibaut Courtois’ clean sheet late on, hitting the post, Madrid remained resolute.
