He is unstoppable. Kylian Mbappé once again led Real Madrid to victory this Saturday on the Villarreal pitch during the clash of the 21st day of La Liga (0-2). Author of his 33rd and 34th goals in 28 matches in all competitions this season, the French international continued the momentum of his excellent Champions League match against Monaco in the middle of the week, during which he had already scored a double (6-1).
Did he want to pay tribute to his teammate Brahim Diaz? He will probably not confirm it, but the leader of the Madrid attack validated his team’s success by converting a penalty that he himself had obtained with a… panenka, perfectly executed (0-2, 90th + 4).
If his first achievement of the evening was much less aesthetic, it had the merit of waking Real from its torpor after 45 rather dull minutes between two teams fearing to concede counter-attacks. Taking advantage of Vinicius’ good work, the top scorer in La Liga (21 goals) did not hesitate to send the ball poorly cleared by African champion Pape Gueye to die in the back of the net (0-1, 47th) and complete his sixth consecutive start with at least one goal.
Brahim Diaz without overplaying
If all eyes were on Mbappé – as in every match – the Bondynois, for once, shared the spotlight with Brahim Diaz. Back on the field for the first time since his missed panenka in the CAN final against Senegal (1-0 ap), the Moroccan international came into play ten minutes from the end of the match.
After watching his Senegalese tormentor Pape Gueye be honored on the pitch before kick-off, the attacking midfielder did not overplay once he came off the bench to replace Arda Güler. He could even have killed the match if Mbappé’s pass, which was intended for him, had not been intercepted (86th).
Provisionally leading La Liga with two points more than Barça, which hosts Oviedo this Sunday, Real Madrid definitely seems to be back on track. Since the humiliation suffered in Albacete in the Copa del Rey, the “White House” has had three victories in all competitions.
