Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, closing the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points ahead of next week’s Clasico. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Arda Guler produced an influential performance as the hosts secured their third consecutive victory across all competitions.
Playing without the suspended Vinicius Jr, the home side broke the deadlock after an initial spell of disjointed play. Turkish midfielder Guler, who had survived Sevilla appeals for a red card following a clash with Peque Fernandez, gathered a pass from Yan Diomande and placed a strike into the top corner. It marked Guler’s second league goal of the campaign.
Mbappe doubled the advantage in the 37th minute with a turn and run that carried him past the visiting back line. The French forward finished past Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to give Madrid control before the interval. Sevilla sought a response early in the second half, but defender Fede Valverde produced a sliding block to deny Felix Correia.
Diomande created Madrid’s third goal by finding Mbappe behind the visiting defence. Defender Andres Castrin brought down the striker inside the penalty area, and Mbappe stepped up to convert the spot kick himself. The goal appeared to put the result beyond doubt midway through the second half.
Sevilla reduced the deficit ten minutes before full time when substitute Manu Bueno punished a turnover by Mbappe deep in the Madrid half. The hosts restored their three-goal cushion just two minutes later, as Diomande completed an impressive individual display with a powerful shot into the net.
The closing stages saw defender Eder Militao enter the pitch as an 85th-minute substitute to loud applause. The appearance was Militao’s first competitive match since undergoing hamstring surgery in April, providing another defensive option for manager Jose Mourinho ahead of the upcoming derby.
The result lifted Madrid into third place on 21 points, one point adrift of Atletico Madrid, while Sevilla remained in sixth place on 14 points. Leaders Barcelona had retained top spot on Saturday with a 5-2 win over Real Betis, extending their perfect start to nine wins from nine league fixtures.
Elsewhere in the division, Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory at Espanyol, and Osasuna defeated Racing Santander 2-0 under returning coach Jagoba Arrasate. Celta Vigo edged Alaves 2-1 after two crucial stops from goalkeeper Ionut Radu, while Real Sociedad claimed a 5-2 win away at Malaga.
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