SPIRITS HIGH: Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde score stunning goals as Real Madrid move up to second in LaLiga with a 4-2 win over Sevilla

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring and provided an assist as the team secured a 4-2 win over mid-table Sevilla on Sunday, climbing to second place in LaLiga and closing the gap to leaders Atletico Madrid to just one point before the winter break.

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Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, and Brahim Diaz also found the net for Real, who stormed to a 3-0 lead within 34 minutes. Sevilla responded with goals from Isaac Romero and Dodi Lukebakio, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Madrid, who are now at 40 points, two ahead of third-placed Barcelona, with the Catalan club having played one extra match.

“I know I can do much more. I have the legs for that,” said Mbappe, reflecting on his recent form. After a challenging start since his summer transfer, the Frenchman has found rhythm with six goals in his last eight games.

“We understand each other better now; I’ve integrated into the team, and that changes everything. As the manager says, the adaptation phase is over,” Mbappe added. “I feel good here, and it shows on the field with how I connect with my teammates. We’re playing better every match.”

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Kylian Mbappe scored and provided an assist as Real Madrid won 4-2 against Sevilla

 

Kylian Mbappe scored and provided an assist as Real Madrid won 4-2 against Sevilla

Mbappe opened the scoring for Real with a superb strike in the tenth minute of the game

 

Mbappe opened the scoring for Real with a superb strike in the tenth minute of the game

Federico Valverde found the net from distance as he got Real's second goal of the game

 

Federico Valverde found the net from distance as he got Real’s second goal of the game

Mbappe scored with a thunderbolt from outside the box in the 10th minute and before Sevilla could recover Valverde also pulled the trigger from long-range that gave Sevilla goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez no chance.

Valverde’s effort was his fifth goal from outside the box in all competitions for Real this season, which is more than any other player from Europe’s top five leagues.

Rodrygo fired home the third in the 34th minute from a cross by Lucas Vazquez but Sevilla scored immediately after kick off when Romero headed in a cross from Juanlu Sanchez.

However, Brahim Diaz restored the home side’s three-goal cushion eight minutes after restart when he finished off a clever move after Mbappe and Vazquez combined to set him up.

Sevilla managed to score another consolation when Peque Fernandez found Lukebakio making a run and made an incisive pass for the Belgian midfielder to score at the near post.

The defeat left the visitors in 12th spot on 22 points.

The match also marked the final game of Jesus Navas’s career as the Sevilla winger heads into retirement.

The 39-year-old World Cup winner with Spain received a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd as well as a guard of honour from both teams before the match.

Rodrygo celebrates following his goal for Real Madrid in their win against Sevilla

 

Rodrygo celebrates following his goal for Real Madrid in their win against Sevilla

Brahim Diaz was also amongst the scorers as Real Madrid managed to take three points

 

Brahim Diaz was also amongst the scorers as Real Madrid managed to take three points

An emotional Jesus Navas applauded supporters following the final game of his career

 

An emotional Jesus Navas applauded supporters following the final game of his career

Isaac Romero scored for Sevilla but his team ended up suffering a defeat against Real Madrid

 

Isaac Romero scored for Sevilla but his team ended up suffering a defeat against Real Madrid

‘I had never seen something like this in my life, in an opposing stadium. It felt like closing the circle,’ Navas said.

‘In the last minutes I was looking at the ground, remembering all the moments lived and the joys.’

Sevilla, sitting in 12th place, had won two of its last two games in all competitions.

Second-to-last Valencia salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Alaves, thanks to a goal by Dani Gomez eight minutes into second-half stoppage time after the visitors had taken the lead with Joan Jordan in the 88th.

The setback drew more protests from Valencia fans who have been unhappy with the administration of team owner Peter Lim.