Mbappé converts penalty as Real Madrid holds Barcelona in La Liga
The 3-0 win over Racing Santander keeps Madrid within three points of the league leader, following a weekend marked by a national moment of silence.
By John Ferrari ·
Kylian Mbappé scored his 12th league goal of the season in the 11th minute to help Real Madrid defeat Racing Santander 3-0 on Sunday. The French forward converted a penalty kick after contact was made inside the box. His strike put the visitors ahead early in the match at the Santander stadium.
Real Madrid secured their third consecutive league victory with the win. The result places the club in third place in La Liga. They are one point behind second-place Atlético de Madrid and three points behind league leaders Barcelona. Barcelona has been scoring at a high rate this season, keeping the title race tight.
Jude Bellingham added the second goal for Madrid around the midway point of the first half. Mbappé was involved in the play that led to the midfielder's strike. Yan Diomandé, a recent summer signing for the team, finished the scoring before halftime. He struck a powerful shot that made the final score 3-0.
Manager Jose Mourinho noted the importance of the result during a busy schedule. He admitted the team could have faced more difficulty but called it a good win. Mourinho said he was thinking about the upcoming Champions League match against AEK Athens in three days. He wanted to rest players who would not start that game, viewing the league match as a gift.
The manager expressed satisfaction with the team's development. He stated that the squad has been growing progressively since his return to the capital this season for a second stint. He said he understands the players better now than he did on his first day. The players also understand his coaching style more clearly.
La Liga observed a minute of silence before every match this weekend. The pause honored the victims of a deadly train accident that occurred in Spain. This somber moment preceded the action on the pitch across the league.
Mbappé has been in the news off the field recently. He apologized on Tuesday for comments in which he referred to Mao Zedong, the founder of communist China, as a dictator. The remarks drew criticism and led to the loss of brand deals with Chinese companies. This followed his placement as the runner-up to Harry Kane in the recent Ballon d'Or voting.
In other La Liga action, Athletic Bilbao came from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Basque derby. Iñaki Williams and Alex Berenguer scored for Athletic in the first half. Getafe also recovered from an early deficit to defeat Sevilla 3-1. Martín Satriano provided an assist for Enes Ünal's equalizer and scored the winning goal in the 74th minute. Orel Mangala added a late goal for Getafe.
