Real Madrid showcased their dominance with a convincing 4-2 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking another memorable moment for the 'Blancos' during this La Liga season. With this win, Carlo Ancelotti's side inches closer to Atlético Madrid, now sitting just one point behind their city rivals.
The match, which took place on December 22, 2024, saw Kylian Mbappé open the scoring early on, sending waves of excitement through the packed stadium.
Mbappé struck with precision just 10 minutes after kick-off, unleashing a fierce shot from just outside the penalty area, which caught Sevilla's goalkeeper, Álvaro Fernández, off guard. His intention was clear; upon receiving the ball from Brahim Diaz, Mbappé aimed directly for the top corner, and he hit it perfectly.
Not long after, the rhythm of the match began to tilt heavily in favor of Real Madrid. Just 10 minutes later, at the 20-minute mark, Federico Valverde doubled the lead with another spectacular long-range effort, cementing Madrid's control over the game.
Rodrygo, stepping up to fill the gap left by the absent Vinicius Junior, added the third goal at the 34th minute, beautifully finishing off another fast-paced build-up from the home side.
Though Sevilla struggled against the tide of Madrid's offensive might, they managed to respond almost immediately after Rodrygo's goal when Isaac Romero headed the ball home, reducing the deficit to 3-1 just one minute later.
Despite the scoreboard tipping Madrid's way, Sevilla displayed moments of resilience, generating chances through their own attacking efforts, though they often fell short against the solid defense of Real Madrid.
After the halftime break, Madrid continued to show their superiority. Brahim Diaz, proving pivotal throughout the match, found the back of the net just eight minutes after the restart. His goal came after exploiting defensive lapses from Sevilla, showcasing his skill and positioning with finesse.
Many fans anticipated Diaz's performance, especially since this match served as Sevilla defender Jesus Navas’s farewell, having announced his retirement at the end of the season.
Stadium vibes turned emotional as fans erupted when Navas stepped onto the field, offering him heartfelt applause for his illustrious career. The left-back's remarkable career was acknowledged with warm tributes throughout the game, culminating when he took his place on the pitch for the last time, which brought most supporters to their feet.
While Real Madrid's lead seemed insurmountable at 4-1, the match still had some late drama. Dodi Lukebakio managed to score for Sevilla at the 85-minute mark, making the final score 4-2 and giving the traveling fans something to cheer about.
Even with the two goals from Sevilla not being enough to turn the tide, they demonstrated their fighting spirit against one of the giants of Spanish football.
The victory propels Real Madrid to 40 points, just one behind Atlético Madrid who leads the La Liga table with 41 points. Meanwhile, Sevilla remain near the mid-table with 22 points, still struggling for form this season.
This result leaves Real Madrid fans optimistic as they move forward and prepare for their next match against Valencia, which is set for January 3, 2025. Ancelotti’s men are clearly hitting form at the right time, and with performances like this, they are poised to challenge for the title.
The thrilling matches at the Bernabéu continue to affirm Real Madrid's place as one of the most formidable teams, and with their recent performances, they are more than ready to take on the rest of this season.
