La Liga: Mbappe Scores Again as Real Madrid Beat Racing Santander for 6th Straight Win
Kylian Mbappe scored in his fifth game in a row as Real Madrid beat newly promoted Racing Santander 3-0 to extend their winning run to six matches in all competitions.
Three First-Half Goals
Real Madrid won 3-0 away at Racing Santander in Round 11 of La Liga. Santander are back in the top flight for the first time in 14 years, but Real Madrid had the game won by half-time.
In the 11th minute, Kylian Mbappe was pulled down in the box and scored the penalty himself. He has now scored in five games in a row in all competitions.
Ten minutes later, Arda Guler played a through ball to Jude Bellingham, who went around the goalkeeper and scored into an empty net. In the 36th minute, big-money signing Yan Diomande hit a superb long-range shot to make it 3-0.
Courtois Reaches Milestone
Real Madrid controlled the second half and kept a clean sheet. It was Thibaut Courtois’s 100th La Liga clean sheet for the club.
Six Wins in a Row
Since losing the Madrid derby, Real Madrid have won six games in a row in La Liga and the Champions League. That run includes last weekend’s Clasico win over Barcelona.
Real Madrid are third in La Liga with 27 points. They are three points behind leaders and defending champions Barcelona, and one point behind second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho Sees Progress
Coach Jose Mourinho said his team is not yet at its best but is getting better all the time. He explained that he now understands things he did not understand when he first arrived. He added that the players also know his personality better, and a good bond has formed between the coach and the squad.
Basque Derby Ends in Controversy
In the Basque derby, Athletic Bilbao beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at home. Inaki Williams gave Athletic the lead in the 14th minute, but Luka Sucic equalised with a long-range shot in the 30th minute.
In first-half stoppage time, Nico Williams was tripped in the box, and Oihan Sancet’s teammate Alex Berenguer scored the penalty. Real Sociedad were angry about the decision, and their official match report said they had been beaten by a penalty that did not exist.
In other games, Espanyol beat Sevilla 3-1, and Valencia won 1-0 away at Elche.