FOOTBALL – Kylian Mbappe equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid with a late penalty in his side’s 2-0 home win over Sevilla in LaLiga yesterday, with the French forward celebrating his 27th birthday in style.
Mbappe missed several earlier chances before getting his chance from the spot four minutes from time and he made no mistake to net his 59th goal in as many games across all competitions in 2025 to level Ronaldo’s 2013 haul.
Jude Bellingham put Real in front with a header seven minutes before halftime and Sevilla went down to 10 men with 22 minutes remaining after Marcao received a second booking but the hosts had keeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for keeping them ahead.
Real are second in the LaLiga standings on 42 points, one behind Barcelona who are away to third-placed Villarreal today while Sevilla are ninth on 20 points.
Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski is back from injury but midfielder Pedri will not make today’s trip to Villarreal as the champions look to protect a four-point lead atop LaLiga, coach Hansi Flick said on the eve of the game.
Lewandowski has missed the last two matches with hamstring discomfort.
Pedri, who has also has a hamstring problem, was absent for the midweek win over Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey last 32.
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