Real Madrid Triumph 3-0 Over Real Valladolid: Mbappe’s Santiago Bernabeu Debut Fizzles
Real Madrid easily defeated Real Valladolid 3-0 on Sunday in a thrilling La Liga encounter.
Even though they won, Kylian Mbappe’s Santiago Bernabeu debut was disappointing because the French player was unable to score. Atletico Madrid continued their winning ways this season when they defeated Girona 3-0 in a different encounter.
Sunday’s La Liga match saw Spanish champion Real Madrid defeat Real Valladolid 3-0, despite Kylian Mbappe’s goalless debut at Santiago Bernabeu. Later in the capital, Atletico Madrid easily defeated Girona, the surprise team from the previous season, by the same score. For his first home game wearing a Los Blancos shirt, Madrid’s French striker Mbappe was mainly thwarted by Valladolid’s defense.
After fifty minutes, Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde opened the score. Late goals were scored by substitutes Brahim Diaz and Endrick, who made his debut.
After a first-round tie against Real Mallorca, Madrid produced enough after the break to secure their first win of the season without the injured Jude Bellingham.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team remained two points behind rivals Barcelona, who defeated Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, despite their continued lack of attacking flair.
“We were too slow in the first half, the second half we were much more active, there was more movement, much faster with the ball,” stated Ancelotti.
In the July heat, Real Valladolid set out to frustrate the champs, and for forty-five minutes, they were successful. In the second half, Madrid showed greater bite, and Valverde broke the tie with a nasty low free kick that was assisted by a deflection.
When Vinicius cut the ball over to Mbappe, he missed a fantastic opportunity to score, but Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein made a great stop. The 18-year-old Brazilian attacker Endrick replaced the captain of France after he missed another opportunity to counterattack. Mbappe scored in his UEFA Super Cup victory on his debut, but he hasn’t scored in his first two La Liga games.
“He’s a spectacular forward, very fast, moves well without the ball, attacks in behind, he had three or four chances (which were) created with his movement,” Ancelotti added.
“In this position, he will score like he always scores, I don’t think he needs to play from the left, in the centre in the end he will score goals.”
After a deft lobbed finish by Diaz to seal Madrid’s victory, Endrick celebrated his debut game for the team with a goal at the near post.
“(Endrick) has got a lot of potential and for his goal he showed his quality,” said Ancelotti. “He’s a centre-forward who plays in the box, in small spaces he’s very dangerous.”
Endrick joined Madrid from Palmeiras in 2022, but he didn’t arrive until this summer after he reached moving age.
Atletico on song
Against Girona, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid secured their first victory of the season thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, and Koke. In the Rojiblancos’ Metropolitano stadium, Julian Alvarez got the start for the team, and Conor Gallagher, a recent addition from Chelsea, made his debut as a substitute.
“The fans were really excited for this one, playing at home for the first time in some time, with new signings — a perfect night,” stated Griezmann.
The hosts dominated play as Michel Sanchez’s Girona, who were third last season ahead of Atletico in fourth place, found it difficult to have an effect.
Shortly before halftime, Griezmann gave Atletico the lead with a powerful, low free kick that confused goalie Paulo Gazzaniga. Early in the second half, Llorente extended the lead with a thunderbolt that flashed into the net from outside the area.
Girona, which lost a number of important players over the summer, has only won one in their opening two games. In stoppage time, Koke completed Atletico’s victory with a counterattack after Llorente placed the ball on a plate for him to score.
Girona midfielder Oriol Romeuv stated, “It’s a process, the season is long but we want to get to our best version as soon as we can.”
