In summary:
- Kylian Mbappe scores his first La Liga goal for Real Madrid.
- The victory propels Real Madrid to second place in the La Liga standings.
- Carlo Ancelotti praises his team’s performance and expresses satisfaction with Mbappe’s integration into the squad.
Real Madrid defeated Real Betis 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, Kylian Mbappe’s first La Liga goal providing a stunning response to his haters and moving the team up to second place in the standings.
The Spanish media criticized the new signing, Mbappe, for failing to score in Madrid’s first three La Liga games since he scored against Atalanta in the Uefa Super Cup.
After missing a number of opportunities, Mbappe was forced to wait for his goals. In the 67th minute, Fede Valverde’s perfectly timed backheel allowed him to whisk the ball past the Betis goalkeeper with his left foot.
After scoring a second goal eight minutes later from the penalty spot, the France captain was applauded as he left the field in the 84th minute to be replaced by Luka Modric.
After the game, Mbappe said, “It’s a great moment.”
“I had a great desire to score at the legendary Bernabeu, the greatest stadium on earth. But winning was what mattered most. We knew we had to win after the Las Palmas match. We succeeded in a challenging contest today by doing just that. However, we’re real, and we triumph in the end and do it in style.”
Mbappe’s smile contrasted with the worry he had displayed since August 14, when he scored his first goal and won his first title in Warsaw.
After the game, Carlo Ancelotti, the coach, insisted on his earlier statement that “we never put Mbappe under pressure to score goals” in response to the criticism. On Saturday, he hit back at the criticism, saying that his star recruit was adjusting well.
“He was very effective in the box; he had many opportunities. I think it is important for him to score, but we appreciate more the work for the team,” added Ancelotti, who confirmed that Vinicius let the French striker take the penalty.
Ancelotti also spread his praise across the entire team, which has taken a while to gel this season.
“Anxiety, frustration—we don’t have them,” said Ancelotti.
“We have desire and motivation to try to do better. Today we did better. I think we deserved to win. It was a good game, much more supportive among all, and we arrive at the (international) break feeling good.”
Madrid’s win takes them second in the table with eight points, four behind early leaders Barcelona, who eviscerated Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.
Atletico Madrid are third after a late victory in Bilbao on Saturday, while Villarreal are fourth, both of them also on eight points.
Girona are fifth after picking up their second win of the season in Seville.
Ivan Martin put Girona ahead in the 41st minute, with Abel Ruiz wrapping up a 2-0 win over Sevilla with a penalty in the 73rd minute.
Goals from Carlos Vicente and Luka Romero gave Alaves a 2-0 win over Las Palmas, while Osasuna are in seventh after an exciting 3-2 win at home against Celta Vigo.
Ante Budimir teed up Flavien Boyomo to put the home side ahead after 21 minutes but the lead was short-lived as Borja Iglesias leveled for Celta.
A Carlos Dominguez own goal just before the break put Osasuna back in front, with Abel Bretones adding a third just after the hour.
Celta were reduced to 10 men when Alfonso Gonzalez was sent off four minutes from time but an own goal from Moi Gomez was a small consolation in the last minute.
