Mbappé Scores as Real Madrid Extend La Liga lead with Win Over Espanyol
Madrid, Spain – Kylian Mbappé found the net as Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of La liga to five points over defending champions Barcelona.
Brazilian defender Éder Militão broke the deadlock with a long-range drive into the top left corner. Mbappé then doubled Madrid’s advantage, finishing a move set up by Vinícius Júnior. Espanyol managed to pull one back, but Madrid comfortably controlled the match.
Mbappé, who also scored twice from the penalty spot in Madrid’s Champions League victory over Marseille midweek, helped Alonso’s team maintain a 100 percent record across all competitions.
Jude Bellingham made a late appearance as a substitute, marking his first appearance as undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer.
“We can’t be doing any better,” Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told Real Madrid TV. “The good thing is we’re getting better at playing in the way the coach wants, understanding the concepts and the results are coming with that.”
carvajal highlighted the team’s improved defensive solidity compared to last season, stating, “I think the performance was complete and we suffered very little in a defensive sense.”
Espanyol have not beaten Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu since 1996 and arrived in the capital third in the league, but were outplayed by Los Blancos.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Levante secured a 4-0 win at Girona, who finished with nine men.Girona, who finished third in the 2023/24 campaign to reach the Champions League, are currently bottom of the league without a win. Coach Michel Sanchez acknowledged their struggles, saying, “After five weeks we are the worst team in the league and all we can do is work hard.”
