Mbappé hits 11 goals in 11 games as Real Madrid routs Sevilla
The French striker's penalty and open-play goal keep Madrid within striking distance of Barcelona ahead of El Clasico.
Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty and finished a one-on-one chance Saturday to push his season total to 11 goals in 11 matches, powering Real Madrid past Sevilla 4-1 and setting up a direct title confrontation with Barcelona.
The victory keeps Madrid six points off the La Liga summit. That gap shrinks to three if they win next weekend. The two rivals meet at Camp Nou on Oct. 25 for the first El Clasico of the campaign.
Arda Guler broke the deadlock in the 30th minute under manager Jose Mourinho, striking from distance to beat goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. Seven minutes later, Mbappé rounded Vlachodimos and slotted home to double the lead.
Sevilla threatened briefly after halftime. Felix Correia struck a volley into the turf that deflected just over the crossbar. Madrid absorbed the pressure and killed the contest when Mbappé was fouled inside the box. He took the spot kick himself.
Manu Bueno pulled one back late, curling a finish into the bottom corner for Sevilla. Yan Diomande responded immediately for Madrid, hammering in a strike to restore the three-goal margin.
Mbappé’s scoring pace mirrors his output during his final months at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Madrid. Eleven goals across all competitions in his first dozen appearances marks the fastest start by a Madrid forward since Cristiano Ronaldo netted 13 times in his opening 11 matches during the 2014-15 season.
Real Madrid could close the gap on leaders Barcelona to three points as the two sides meet next in La Liga [AFP via Getty Images]
Mourinho inherited a squad chasing Barcelona’s early dominance. Sevilla, who last season finished mid-table, now face their fourth consecutive league match without a win following this defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu.
