Madrid wrap up the year with a win and a record for Mbappé

Real Madrid ended the year with a win over Sevilla at the Bernabéu. A goal from Bellingham in the first half and another from the penalty spot by Mbappé, who equalled the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo for the most goals scored by a Madrid player in a year (59), gave Xabi Alonso's side three points in a match that started at a very high tempo with chances for both teams. The first chance fell to the home side after five minutes. A brilliant through ball from Rodrygo found Fran García, who was unable to beat Odysseas in a one-on-one situation. Sevilla also had a chance to score in another one-on-one situation, but Isaac's shot narrowly missed the target in the 7th minute.

Ten minutes later, Xabi Alonso's side could have opened the scoring with a quick transition from Arda Güler, who passed the ball to Mbappé, whose subsequent shot inside the area went slightly wide. As the minutes passed, the game changed. There was little action in either box, but Real Madrid began to take control of the ball and their dominance led to them taking the lead. Rodrygo took a precise free kick from the wing in the 38th minute and Bellingham powered the ball into the net with a header. The score was 1-0 at half-time, but shortly after the restart, Alexis had a chance to equalise in a one-on-one with Courtois, who was superb, and in the immediate aftermath, Mbappé almost doubled the lead with a solo effort, in which he left Gudelj and Carmona trailing in his wake. His shot missed the target by centimetres.

Mbappé, against the crossbar
The match became a back-and-forth affair, and with barely any time to digest the chances, other clear opportunities arose. Mbappé's shot, unopposed inside the area, ended up in the hands of Odysseas in the 52nd minute, and Isaac's shots in the 52nd and 56th minutes, respectively, were brilliantly saved by Courtois. Two minutes later, Mbappé responded again, this time with a header that crashed off the crossbar. And in the 68th minute, Sevilla were reduced to ten men after Marcão was sent off for a second yellow card.

Mbappé's goal and record
Our team was getting closer and closer to a second goal, which could have come in the 78th minute with a spectacular move by Rodrygo inside the area. Surrounded by defenders, he lifted the ball and surprised everyone with a volley that Odysseas reacted to with a great save before the ball hit the crossbar again. Seven minutes later, the Brazilian was in the spotlight again when he won a penalty from Juanlu. Mbappé converted it to score his 59th goal in 2025 and equal the record held since 2013 by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for the most goals scored by a Real Madrid player in a calendar year. The Frenchman celebrated the goal with a tribute to his idol, celebrating as the Portuguese used to. From then until the end, there were chances in both areas and a magnificent Courtois who ended up with a clean sheet.