Kylian Mbappe opened his La Liga account with a brace as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabéu. The French superstar, who had been under scrutiny after failing to score in his first three league games, silenced his critics with two well-taken goals that underscored his value to the Spanish giants.
A Much-Anticipated Breakthrough
Mbappe’s first few weeks in La Liga were less fruitful, as he struggled to find the back of the net despite numerous attempts. That changed against Real Betis, where the 25-year-old finally broke his scoring drought in Spain’s top flight.
The first goal came after a moment of brilliance from Federico Valverde, who played a clever backheel into Mbappe’s path. The Frenchman made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva in the 32nd minute. The goal not only ended Mbappe’s dry spell but also set the tone for a dominant Madrid performance.
Clinical from the Spot
Mbappe’s second goal of the night came from the penalty spot, an opportunity he won after Vinicius Jr. was brought down by Silva inside the box. Stepping up with confidence, Mbappe sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, doubling Madrid’s lead and effectively putting the game out of Betis’s reach. The penalty marked his 26th shot of the La Liga season, a testament to his persistence and determination to open his account.
With these two goals, Kylian Mbappe has now scored three times for Real Madrid, having previously netted on his debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta. The goals will undoubtedly ease some of the pressure on the Frenchman, who has been keen to justify his high-profile move to the Spanish capital.
Real Betis Threaten Early
Despite the final scoreline, Real Betis were not without their chances. The visitors started brightly and could have taken the lead in the early stages of the match. Abde Ezzalzouli came close with a header that sailed just wide of the post, while Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, forcing a save from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with his first touch.
Real Betis’s attacking threat was a reminder that Real Madrid, despite their defensive solidity, are still prone to moments of vulnerability. However, the home side’s experience and quality ultimately saw them through, as they weathered the storm before taking control of the match.
Madrid’s Dominance against Betis
The team created numerous chances throughout the game, with Mbappe leading the charge but also receiving significant support from his teammates. Eder Militao and Valverde both forced saves from Rui Silva, while Vinicius Jr. was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself, hitting the post with a deflected effort. The Brazilian winger’s pace and trickery were a constant thorn in Betis’s side, and his partnership with Mbappe is beginning to show signs of promise.
As for Real Betis, the defeat leaves them with just one point from their opening three matches, a worrying start for a team that harbored ambitions of challenging for a European spot this season. Manager Manuel Pellegrini will need to regroup and address the issues that have plagued his side in the early weeks of the campaign.
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