Mbappe equals Ronaldo's record as Real Madrid closes in on Barca in La Liga

Jude Bellingham's headed goal combined with Kylian Mbappe's penalty helped Real Madrid defeat Sevilla 2-0, reducing the distance to Barca and witnessing Mbappe reach a historic landmark.

Hosting Sevilla at Santiago Bernabeu in Round 18 La Liga 2025/26, Real Madrid entered the match with a clear objective to claim all three points before the winter break. From the kickoff, the pace intensified as both teams actively pursued attacking play. Fran Garcia for Real Madrid and Romero for Sevilla had early chances, but their shots lacked the necessary precision.

After an open start, Real Madrid gradually took control of the game. The home side pressed high and consistently pushed Sevilla back into their own half. However, impatience led to many of Los Blancos' shots missing the target. The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute when Jude Bellingham found the perfect position and leapt to deliver a sharp header, opening the scoring for Los Blancos.

The first half also saw tensions rise, with the referee issuing four yellow cards, three of which were against Sevilla, highlighting the visitors' aggressive style. In the second half, the match became more balanced as Sevilla pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

The visitors nearly succeeded in creating dangerous chances, but goalkeeper Courtois shone with three crucial saves. On the other side, Vlachodimos also had an outstanding performance, helping Sevilla avoid conceding further goals for most of the second half.

The turning point came in the 68th minute when center-back Marcao committed a dangerous tackle and received a second yellow card, leaving Sevilla a man down. Despite this, the visitors fought hard to maintain their shape and resisted Real Madrid's pressure.

Real Madrid only truly accelerated in the final minutes. In the 85th minute, Rodrygo was fouled inside the box, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty. From the spot, Kylian Mbappe calmly converted to secure a 2-0 victory for the Bernabeu side.

This goal holds special significance for Mbappe as it marks his 59th goal in a calendar year for Real Madrid, equaling the record previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo wearing the Los Blancos jersey. This milestone was once regarded as a nearly unattainable benchmark in the club's history.

With this win, Real Madrid now have 42 points, temporarily cutting the gap to Barcelona to just one point despite having played one more match. The La Liga title race remains intense, with the form of Mbappe and Bellingham providing great hope for the Royal fans.