Mbappe scores twice as Real Madrid beats Sevilla 4-1, climbs to third in La Liga

Kylian Mbappe scored twice—including a dazzling roulette goal and a chipped Panenka penalty—to lead Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Arda Guler opened the scoring after avoiding an early red card for an elbow, and Ivorian winger Yan Diomande added a fourth with a long-range strike. The win lifts Madrid above Real Betis into third place in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona before next weekend's El Clasico at Camp Nou.

The result signals Madrid's resurgence under new coach Jose Mourinho, showing attacking depth beyond Vinicius Junior, who was suspended. For Nigerian fans who follow European football, Mbappe's form boosts hopes of seeing African-born talent shine on the biggest stage, while the team's three-goal burst highlights the effectiveness of Mourinho's tactical setup despite ongoing refereeing disputes.

Mourinho praised the squad's cohesion, noting they have only been together a short time, and defended his players against criticism of refereeing, echoing Sevilla coach Luis Garcia Plaza's complaint that an unpunished elbow by Guler should have been a red card. With Barcelona six points ahead and Atletico Madrid second, the race for the title tightens ahead of the Clasico. Will Madrid's current momentum be enough to overturn Barcelona's lead, or will defensive lapses and officiating controversies derail their challenge?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/18/mbappe-bags-brace-as-real-madrid-rout-sevilla/