Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick as Real Madrid recorded a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid in Saturday night's La Liga contest at Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
The France international netted once in the first period before striking twice in the second to move onto 21 Los Blancos goals for the campaign, and Carlo Ancelotti's side have now opened up a four-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga table.
Real Madrid are also now 10 points ahead of third-placed Barcelona, putting major pressure on the Catalan outfit to address their faltering league form when they take on struggling Valencia on Sunday.
As for Valladolid, the strugglers, who had Mario Martin sent off late on, remain bottom of the table, boasting only 15 points from their 21 league matches this season, but they are only five points from safety and can take some positives from what was a tough match against the reigning champions.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
This was not a vintage performance from Real Madrid despite the comfortable scoreline, and without the services of the glorious Vinicius Junior, there was a bit of magic missing, but it was a professional display from the reigning champions.
In many ways, it was a result and performance that wins titles, and Los Blancos, for all of their issues this season, are now in a very strong position at the top of the table, with Atletico held by Villarreal earlier in the day, and Barcelona on a run of just one victory from their last eight matches in Spain's top flight.
Mbappe was the star of the show, with the forward scoring three times, and he has now managed 21 goals in 31 appearances for Ancelotti's side, including 15 in 19 La Liga outings.
Some lacklustre performances earlier this season had led to suggestions that this could be an underwhelming campaign for Real Madrid, but they are finding form at the perfect time, and with Mbappe in their side, anything is possible.
REAL VALLADOLID VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
30th min: Real Valladolid 0-1 Real Madrid (Kylian Mbappe)
The breakthrough arrives in the 30th minute of the contest, and it is Mbappe with the goal, as the France international plays a one-two with Jude Bellingham before finishing into the back of the net - Real Valladolid's resistance is broken here.
57th min: Real Valladolid 0-2 Real Madrid (Kylian Mbappe)
Real Madrid double their advantage in the 57th minute of the contest, and it is a second of the match for Mbappe, who fires the ball into the bottom corner after being found by Rodrygo - this is scary form from Mbappe at the moment.
90th min: Mario Martin (Real Valladolid) red card
Valladolid are reduced to 10 men, as Martin picks up a second yellow card for a foul on Bellingham inside the penalty box.
90 min+1: Real Valladolid 0-3 Real Madrid (Kylian Mbappe, penalty)
Mbappe registers again in second-half stoppage time after Bellingham is fouled inside the box, with the forward finding the back of the net from the penalty spot to score his first hat trick for the reigning Spanish and European champions.
MAN OF THE MATCH - KYLIAN MBAPPE
© Imago
Mbappe was untouchable on Saturday night, with his second goal particularly special, and Valladolid simply could not live with him whenever he had space to attack, which was too often from the home side's point of view.
The forward had six shots in total, while he completed 41 of his 48 passes during a brilliant performance, and Valladolid will be delighted that they do not have to face a player of his ilk every week.
REAL VALLADOLID VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Real Valladolid 31%-69% Real Madrid
Shots: Real Valladolid 6-20 Real Madrid
Shots on target: Real Valladolid 2-4 Real Madrid
Corners: Real Valladolid 1-7 Real Madrid
Fouls: Real Valladolid 11-12 Real Madrid
BEST STATS
3 - Real Madrid strikers in the 21st century who took the fewest @LaLigaEN games to score their first hat-trick:
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 25, 2025
2 - Ruud van Nistelrooij 🇳🇱
9 - Gareth Bale 🏴
14 - Emmanuel Adebayor 🇹🇬
19 - KYLIAN MBAPPÉ 🇫🇷 and Ronaldo Nazário 🇧🇷
Confidence. pic.twitter.com/DpwC1MardK
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT TO SCORE HIS FIRST HAT TRICK FOR REAL MADRID 🎩 pic.twitter.com/KeIu6BX2Gj
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 25, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid's attention will now switch to the Champions League and their final match in the league phase of the competition, which comes against Brest on Wednesday night; Los Blancos are currently 16th in the Champions League table and guaranteed a playoff spot, while they are only one point behind eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen in the race for automatic qualification to the next round.
Real Valladolid, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats when they continue their La Liga campaign with a trip to Champions League-chasing Villarreal next weekend.
Matt Law
