Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz (L) celebrates with Kylian Mbappe during their La Liga clash with Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, December 22, 2024. /CFP
Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz (L) celebrates with Kylian Mbappe during their La Liga clash with Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, December 22, 2024. /CFP
Kylian Mbappe scored to help Real Madrid defeat Sevilla 4-2 on Saturday to move second in La Liga above stuttering rivals Barcelona.
After Atletico Madrid beat Barca on Saturday to claim top spot at Christmas, Carlo Ancelotti's side also took advantage with a comfortable home win which leaves them a point behind the leaders.
Madrid coach Ancelotti said ahead of Sevilla's visit that Mbappe's adaptation period had ended following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain and the French forward proved the coach right with a strong performance and his 14th goal of the season across all competitions.
"I know I've got much more in my legs than I'm showing, but in the last games I've played better," Mbappe said. "The Bilbao game was good for me, I hit the bottom, I missed a penalty and it was a moment to realise that I have to give everything for this shirt and show my personality."
Fede Valverde netted a brilliant effort from range, with Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz on the scoresheet for the hosts too, the latter assisted by a clever Mbappe pass.
Isaac Romero and Dodi Lukebakio scored for Sevilla, although they were thoroughly outplayed on veteran defender Jesus Navas' final game for the club.
Sevilla veteran Jesus Navas gets emotional at the end of their La Liga clash with Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain, December 22, 2024. /CFP
Sevilla veteran Jesus Navas gets emotional at the end of their La Liga clash with Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain, December 22, 2024. /CFP
Sevilla brought on Navas after the hour mark and he was applauded by the Santiago Bernabeu, with this his 705th and final appearance for the club, far more than any other player.
Madrid and Sevilla players together gave the retiring Spanish great, a World Cup winner in 2010 and two-time Euros champion, a guard of honour at the start of the game.
Navas, 39, won four Europa Leagues and two Copa del Rey trophies with Sevilla, but his final appearance ended in disappointment for the Andalusians.
"Today was a spectacle, I haven't seen anything like that in my life at an away ground, it was crazy," an emotional Navas told reporters. "I was thinking of all the moments that I've lived through, the joys I've given to my Sevilla and my national team."