Mbappe scores first LaLiga hat-trick for Real Madrid in win over Valladolid | Football news
Mbappe’s scoring spree on Saturday night ended a hot streak of eight goals in his last five games.
Kylian Mbappe scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid as the LaLiga champions easily beat bottom club Real Valladolid 3-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Real opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Mbappe played a one-two with Jude Bellingham on Saturday, darting into the box to collect the Englishman’s pass and avoid the offside trap before firing a joyous shot past goalkeeper Karl Hein.
He extended their lead on a quick counterattack in the 56th minute, breaking down the left channel and receiving a pass from Rodrygo before curling a low shot just wide of the far post.
Mbappe, 26, wrapped up the win from the penalty spot after Mario Martin was sent off for a tackle on Bellingham inside the penalty area in added time.
Real are top of the La Liga standings with 49 points, four ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who dropped two points at home to a 1-1 draw against Villarreal earlier on Saturday. They are followed by Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao with a tied 39 points, both with a game less.
“I’m happy for the hat-trick but more for the win, I say that every week, but it was important to win today after the draw with Atletico,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
“We had to play well, we scored the first goal in a joint action. In the second half, we could have played better, but we scored the second, managed well and scored the third.”
It wasn’t the most inspired performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s side who struggled to create many scoring chances despite controlling the action with almost 70 percent of possession, finishing the game with just four shots on goal.
Without Vinicius Jr. suspended following a red card against Valencia, Real once again relied on Mbappe to score goals on a cold night.
The French superstar played inconsistently in his first few months in Madrid after joining from Paris St Germain last summer, but has returned to his devastating best in recent weeks, scoring 15 LaLiga goals and 21 in all competitions.
After last week’s brace against Las Palmas and Saturday’s hat-trick, Mbappe is now second in LaLiga’s top scorers, just one goal behind Barcelona’s Roberto Lewandowski.
