Kylian Mbappe struggles on his Santiago Bernabeu debut. © Twitter (@CFC_Janty)
After an exciting La Liga match at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid defeated Real Valladolid 3-0 to win the game. Despite the excitement surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s debut at home, the French star couldn’t find the net, and Valladolid’s defence largely contained him. Madrid’s first half could have been better, with the absence of injured Jude Bellingham affecting their attacking rhythm.
After the break, Fede Valverde broke the deadlock with a deflected free-kick, sparking Madrid into action. Mbappe missed a golden opportunity when Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein saved his shot, and he fired another chance wide before being substituted for 18-year-old Brazilian Endrick. Endrick made an instant impact, scoring a goal in his debut match, while Brahim Diaz added a neat lobbed finish to seal the win.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Madrid’s first-half performance was slow but praised the improvement in the second half. Despite the victory, Madrid remains two points behind Barcelona, who also won their match. Mbappe’s struggle to score on his home debut is a talking point, but Ancelotti remains optimistic about his future contributions.
Atletico Madrid defeated Girona 3-0 in a different La Liga matchup. Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, and Koke all scored for Atletico, highlighting their attacking prowess. Griezmann’s free-kick, Llorente’s thunderbolt, and Koke’s late goal underscored Atletico’s dominance in the game.
Diego Simeone’s side controlled the match from start to finish, with new signings making a positive impact. Girona, struggling to replace key players, has only one point from its first two matches. As the season goes on, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will both want to improve on their performances.
