French star hits 21st league goal of the season as coach Arbeloa hails his “nightmare” partnership with Vinícius.
Kylian Mbappé delivered a masterclass on Saturday, scoring both goals to propel Real Madrid to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Villarreal and send his team to the top of La Liga. The win marks a significant step in the revival of Madrid’s season under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, moving them two points clear of rivals Barcelona.
In a match that simmered without truly boiling over in the first half, the deadlock was broken just two minutes after the restart. Vinícius Júnior, who tormented defenders all evening, saw a low cross blocked, but Mbappé was perfectly positioned to poke home from close range. The French superstar then sealed the points in stoppage time, coolly chipping a “Panenka” penalty after being fouled in the box—a gesture of support for teammate Brahim Díaz, who had missed a similar kick in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
“For you,” Mbappé appeared to say to Díaz during the celebration.
The double takes Mbappé’s staggering season tally to 34 goals across all competitions, with 21 coming in La Liga. After a rocky start under Arbeloa that included a shock Copa del Rey exit, Madrid have now won three consecutive matches, looking more cohesive with each outing.
Arbeloa was effusive in his praise for his two talismanic forwards. “They are the best players in the world, they are players who can really unbalance teams,” he told Real Madrid TV. “They’re a nightmare for defences,” added goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Villarreal, now fourth, fought valiantly and enjoyed periods of pressure, particularly in the second half as they chased an equalizer. Veteran forward Gerard Moreno spurned their best chance, firing just over the bar. “We have to be a bit more accurate in attack against these kinds of teams,” admitted midfielder Alberto Moleiro.
The result solidifies Madrid’s resurgence and places the title pressure firmly on Barcelona, who play on Sunday. For Arbeloa, the growing understanding between Mbappé and Vinícius—and the unity within his squad—is the most promising sign of all.
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