(Madrid) French striker Kylian Mbappé scored his first goals in La Liga with Real Madrid on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium against Real Betis, after not scoring for four games since his goal against Atalanta Bergamo in the European Super Cup.
After having had a number of chances in the first half, Real’s number 9 finally found the opening in the 67th minute.e minute, easily beating the Betis goalkeeper with his left foot after a backheel from Fede Valverde, before doubling the lead with a penalty shot (75e).
Replaced by Luka Modric in the 84th minutee minute, he came out all smiles to the cheers of the Bernabeu members.
With this victory, Real moves up to second place with eight points, like Atlético Madrid and Villarreal, and four points behind FC Barcelona, the big winner (7-0) over Valladolid on Saturday.
In other Sunday matches, Girona (5e) went on to beat FC Sevilla.
Since his first goal and his first title in the European Super Cup, on August 14 in Warsaw, Mbappé had not found the back of the net and criticism began to flourish in the Spanish press.
On Saturday, his coach Carlos Ancelotti said his star recruit had “no problems adapting”.
“He didn’t score, it’s true, but he’s playing very well and he’s been very dangerous every time. I don’t think he has any problems adapting,” said Ancelotti, pointing instead to his team’s lack of balance.
PHOTO THOMAS COEX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Kylian Mbappé shakes hands with his coach, Carlos Ancelotti
Offerings of Valverde and Vinicius
Before his goals, Real Madrid’s best situations were for Mbappé. But if he sometimes lacked precision, like his screwed recovery on a cross from Vinicius (22e), the French striker was also well muzzled by the Betis defenders, often in the path of his attempts (13e38e63e).
Served at ground level by Vinicius in the area, the Frenchman completely screwed up his shot (22e).
Sometimes switching with the Brazilian winger to go to the left, Mbappé was often caught by two Betis defenders who came to counter his attempts (13e38e).
Even if he was offside, the Frenchman could have sunk after returning from the locker room after missing the target in front of an empty goal, receiving a shot from Vinicius which had hit the post (50e).
But the former Parisian did not tremble when Fede Valverde came to light up a match which was sorely lacking in thrills.
By serving the Frenchman in depth with a magical backheel, he offered a liberating goal to Mbappé before Vinicius left him the penalty shot that he obtained. An offering in the image of the Brazilian’s efforts throughout the game to try to make his new partner shine.
With this double, Kylian Mbappé will see the pressure on Madrid ease. A good omen before his return to the French team this week where he will also have to silence the criticism born from his disappointing Euro.