Kylian Mbappe responded to his critics with a stellar performance, scoring his first La Liga goals to secure a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, propelling them to second in the league table.
Mbappe, who had not scored in Madrid’s first three La Liga games since his UEFA Super Cup goal against Atalanta, faced some criticism from the Spanish press. He initially struggled with several missed opportunities but finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, finishing a well-timed back-heel pass from Fede Valverde with his left foot.
Just eight minutes later, the French captain added a second goal from the penalty spot and received a warm ovation when substituted for Luka Modric in the 84th minute. "It’s a great moment," Mbappe said in a post-match interview. "I was really hoping to score at the Bernabeu, the best stadium in the world. But winning was the most important thing. After our game against Las Palmas, we knew we had to secure a win today. We did so in a challenging match, showing the quality of Real Madrid."
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Mbappe’s performance contrasted sharply with the concern that had surrounded him since his initial goal and first trophy in Warsaw on August 14. Coach Carlo Ancelotti had defended Mbappe against criticism earlier in the week and reiterated after the match that "we never put pressure on Mbappe to score goals." Ancelotti praised Mbappe’s effectiveness and team contribution, emphasizing that while scoring is important, the team’s overall performance is valued more.
Ancelotti also commended the team’s improvement, saying, "We don’t have anxiety or frustration. We have desire and motivation to improve. Today was a much better game, and we deserved the win. We’re heading into the international break on a positive note."
Real Madrid’s win puts them second in the table with eight points, four behind leaders Barcelona, who demolished Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday. Atletico Madrid is in third place after a late victory in Bilbao, with Villarreal also on eight points in fourth.
Girona, in fifth place, earned their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Sevilla, thanks to goals from Ivan Martin and Abel Ruiz. Alaves secured a 2-0 win against Las Palmas with goals from Carlos Vicente and Luka Romero, while Osasuna is in seventh place following a thrilling 3-2 home win against Celta Vigo. Ante Budimir and Flavien Boyomo contributed to Osasuna’s lead, with Carlos Dominguez’s own goal and Abel Bretones’ strike securing the win despite a late own goal from Moi Gomez.
