Real Madrid secured a 2–0 win over Sevilla, but the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabéu was met with a mixture of relief and frustration from the home crowd. Despite taking all three points, Xabi Alonso’s side delivered a disjointed performance, repeatedly exposed at the back and far from convincing for long spells.

Sevilla created several clear-cut chances, capitalising on Madrid’s defensive lapses, and only an outstanding display from Thibaut Courtois kept the scoreline intact. The Belgian goalkeeper produced a series of crucial one-on-one saves, underlining his importance on a night when Madrid looked vulnerable.

The deadlock was finally broken when Jude Bellingham rose highest to head home from a precise Rodrygo free-kick. The goal provided a lift for the hosts, but it did little to mask the lack of cohesion in their overall play.

The tension lingered deep into the second half until Kylian Mbappé delivered a moment of history. His late strike — his 59th goal of 2025 — saw him draw level with the legendary record set by Cristiano Ronaldo, offering a reminder of his decisive quality on the biggest stage.

Any remaining doubt was removed when Sevilla were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Marcao late on. The result allows Real Madrid to close the gap on leaders Barcelona to just one point in La Liga.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Real - Sevilla 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: Bellingham, 38 (1:0); Mbappé, 86 (penalty) (2:0)

Real: Courtois; Asencio R. (Jimenez D., 94); García Fr.; Rudiger; Huijsen; Tchouaméni; Güler A. (Camavinga, 72); Bellingham; Vinícius Júnior (García G., 83); Mbappé; Rodrygo
Substitution: Camavinga (from 72); García G. (from 83); Jimenez D. (from 94)
Bench: Lunin Andriy; Mestre; Alaba; Mendy Fe.; Pitarch; Dani Ceballos; Mastantuono
Yellow Cards: Rodrygo 41; Asencio R. 60

Sevilla: Vlachodimos; Suazo (Oso, 60); Carmona J.Á. (Salas K., 84); Marcão T. (till 68); Agoume (Januzaj, 84); Mendy Ba. (Alfon, 84); Gudelj; Sow Dj. (till 91); Romero Is. (Peque Fernández, 70); Sanchez A.; Juanlu Sánchez
Substitution: Oso (from 60); Peque Fernández (from 70); Salas K. (from 84); Januzaj (from 84); Alfon (from 84)
Bench: Nyland; Cardoso F.; Martinez R-n; Castrín; Bueno M.; Joan Jordan; Sierra Miguel
Yellow Cards: Carmona J.Á. 34; Marcão T. 38, 68; Agoume 70; Sow Dj. 70, 91
Red cards: Marcão T. 68', Sow Dj. 91'