Kylian Mbappe showcased his exceptional form once again, netting a hat-trick on Saturday to lead Real Madrid to a commanding 3-0 victory over Valladolid, extending their lead to four points at the top of La Liga.
Atletico Madrid, currently in second place, managed a 1-1 draw at home against Villarreal, while Barcelona, sitting in third, finds themselves 10 points behind Los Blancos ahead of their match against Valencia on Sunday.
After a period of inconsistency following his summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe has hit his stride in recent weeks, now boasting 15 league goals this season, just one behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who has 16.
This hat-trick marked Mbappe’s first for Madrid, helping the team secure a straightforward away win against the struggling Valladolid, who were without suspended Brazilian star Vinicius Junior.
“I’m thrilled with the hat-trick, but the win is what truly matters,” Mbappe shared with Real Madrid TV. “It’s crucial to secure the victory today after Atletico’s result… we’re pleased to head back to Madrid with the three points.”
Valladolid made a promising start, with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denying a header from David Torres, but that was the highlight for the hosts.
As the match progressed, Madrid began to assert their dominance, breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute when Jude Bellingham delivered a deflected pass to Mbappe, who expertly curled the ball into the top corner.
The former PSG star has now scored in each of his last five matches for his new club, proving to be the lethal attacking presence Madrid had anticipated.
While Madrid controlled the game, they didn’t create a plethora of chances, but with Mbappe in such fine form, he only needed one more opportunity to seal the match.
In the 57th minute, Rodrygo Goes set up Mbappe, who skillfully placed a low shot past goalkeeper Karl Hein from a similar angle to his first goal.
Mbappe secured his hat-trick with a penalty in the closing moments of the match, following a reckless tackle by Mario Martin on Bellingham inside the box.
Although the Valladolid midfielder managed to make contact with the ball, he caught the England star’s calf with a studs-up challenge, resulting in his red card.
From the penalty spot, Mbappe confidently sent Hein the wrong direction, marking his impressive 12th goal in just 11 games across all competitions.
