Kylian Mbappe delivered an electrifying performance on Saturday, netting his first hat-trick for Real Madrid and leading the team to a comfortable 3-0 triumph against bottom-placed Real Valladolid. This victory not only showcases Mbappe's growing influence in La Liga but also solidifies Real Madrid's position at the top of the standings with 49 points, four ahead of Atletico Madrid.
The action began in the 30th minute when Mbappe executed a seamless one-two with Jude Bellingham, deftly navigating past the offside trap before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Karl Hein. His second goal came in the 56th minute from a swift counter-attack, where he received a pass from Rodrygo and effortlessly curled the ball just inside the far post.
The match's decisive moment arrived in added time when Mario Martin was sent off following a tough tackle on Bellingham, granting Mbappe a penalty. Calmly, he converted from the spot to seal the 3-0 victory.
Despite dominating possession with nearly 70% of the ball, Real Madrid struggled to find numerous scoring opportunities, managing only four shots on target. The absence of Vinicius Jr., suspended after a red card against Valencia, placed more reliance on Mbappe, who has been on a scoring spree in recent months.
With this hat-trick, Mbappe now ranks second in La Liga's scoring charts, trailing only Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski by a single goal. His exceptional form continues to propel Real Madrid as they aim to stay ahead in the fiercely competitive league.
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Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick gives Real Madrid easy win at Valladolid
cgtn.com