Kylian Mbappe continued his fine form by scoring as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, maintaining their perfect start to the La Liga season.
Eder Militao broke the deadlock with a thunderous long-range effort after 22 minutes before Mbappe sealed the victory early in the second half with a precise strike from outside the box. The French forward now has five goals in five league matches, further solidifying his impact under coach Xabi Alonso.
Madrid sit five points clear at the top, with reigning champions Barcelona set to face Getafe on Sunday. Alonso’s side, who also began their Champions League campaign with a win over Marseille, have yet to drop points in any competition this season.
Vinicius Junior, recalled to the starting line-up, assisted Mbappe’s goal but was denied a goal of his own when he struck the post after Marko Dmitrovic’s double save from Mbappe. England’s Jude Bellingham made a late return from shoulder surgery, while Eduardo Camavinga also featured in the closing stages.
Espanyol, who came into the match third in the table, were handed a reality check by Los Blancos, who dominated throughout and extended their long unbeaten home run against the Catalan side. Espanyol have not beaten Madrid at the Bernabeu since 1996.
Madrid defender Dani Carvajal praised the team’s progress, saying, “The good thing is we’re getting better at playing in the way the coach wants, understanding the concepts, and the results are coming with that.” He added, “We’re leaving as leaders; we’re still at the top of the table, and our objective was completed.”
Elsewhere, Levante thrashed Girona 4-0, with the hosts finishing with nine men. Girona, surprise Champions League qualifiers last season, now sit bottom of the table without a win. Coach Michel Sanchez admitted, “After five weeks we are the worst team in the league, and all we can do is work hard.”
What you should know
Kylian Mbappe’s scoring form helped Real Madrid secure a fifth straight La Liga win, keeping them clear at the top.
With Militao’s screamer and defensive stability under Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos look strong early in the season, while Barcelona must win to close the gap.
