Mbappe’s Double and Guler’s Controversial Escape Ignite Real Madrid’s Thrilling 4-1 Victory Over Sevilla

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Real Madrid moved back to within six points of leaders Barcelona ahead of next weekend’s Clasico with a win over Sevilla that was not without fortune and controversy.

Just 24 hours after Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini moaned of bias towards Barca in his side’s 5-2 defeat, Sevilla also had cause for complaint after Arda Guler escaped a red card midway through the first half before he then opening the scoring.

The former Fenerbahce midfielder threw an elbow into the face of Peque Fernandez as the pair tussled while running back towards the Madrid goal. It seemed a fairly obvious dismissal but referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer and the VAR opted against any action at all and instead booked Dean Huijsen and Sevilla skipper Felix Correira for their part in the ensuing melee.

Guler promptly put Madrid ahead with a lovely goal before Kylian Mbappe netted twice, including a penalty, to see Madrid to their eighth successive league win at the Santiago Bernabéu. Yan Diomande was also on target, shortly after Sevilla had reduced the arrears through substitute Manu Bueno.

Guler avoids early bath and Madrid take full advantage

The result was never in doubt once Guler opened the scoring but it had been a tense and tetchy opening 30 minutes.

After Robbie Ure’s early header had been saved by Thibaut Courtois, Madrid applied some pressure themselves but they were restricted to half-chances with Mbappe firing wide and Endrick seeing an effort blocked by Lucien Agoume.

Yan Diomande replaced the suspended Vinicius Jr on the left wing and a dancing run from the Ivorian almost resulted in a goal after 12 minutes but the former RB Leipzig man put his shot into the side netting.

Sevilla came closest to an opener after 18 minutes with Ruben Vargas’ turn and shot flashing inches wide of the upright.

Diomande went close again before the half’s major flashpoint. Peque pulled Guler’s shirt with the Madrid midfielder throwing an elbow at the Sevilla man in an attempt to wriggle free. 

Much to Sevilla’s irritation, it was Guler who then made the breakthrough, running on to Diomande’s perfect pass to sweep a left-footed strike past Odysseas Vlachodimos and into the far corner.

Mbappe almost made it 2-0 four minutes later but the France striker did get his goal after 37 minutes. Diomande and Jude Bellingham created the opportunity but Mbappe still had plenty to do and he did it beautifully, cutting past a defender, skipping past Vlachodimos and poking into the empty net.

Sevilla came close to halving the deficit in first-half stoppage time but Courtois produced a brilliant save to keep out Agoume’s low shot.

Mbappe scores again and Diomande gets deserved goal

The visitors came close again 10 minutes after the restart with substitute Chidera Ejuke beating Marc Cucurella but then fizzing a shot just over the bar.

Diomande dragged a shot wide at the other end and he was also instrumental in the moment that effectively settled the contest in the hosts’ favour.

Having deceived his marker with a glorious turn, Diomande played in Mbappe who was bundled to the floor by Andres Castrin. Busquets Ferrer pointed to the spot and Mbappe made no mistake with a cheeky Panenka.

Sevilla, to their credit, kept plugging away and Youssouf Fofana drew another fine save from Courtois from 20 yards. Gabriel Suazo also fired wide as Sevilla looked for a consolation.

Sevilla had made their best start to an away campaign in the top-flight since 2011-12 and they got the goal their enterprise deserved with 10minutes to go. Mbappe was dispossessed on the edge of his own box and Lucas Stassin set up Bueno, who fired past Courtois.

That goal threatened to set up a grandstand finish but Madrid swiftly restored their three-goal cushion with Diomande capping a fine individual performance with a rasping finish past Vlachodimos with seven minutes left.

A fine night for Madrid was capped by the return of central defender Eder Militao from a serious hamstring injury sustained in April that saw the Brazil international miss the World Cup. He came off the bench for the final few minutes in place of Federico Valverde.

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