Mbappe strikes again as Real Madrid ease past Espanyol

Kylian Mbappe continued his blistering form with another goal as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, stretching their perfect start to the LaLiga season.

Xabi Alonso’s side have now won all five of their opening league fixtures, with Mbappe scoring five goals in the process. The French forward sealed the victory with a powerful strike early in the second half, after Eder Militao had broken the deadlock with a thunderous long-range effort in the 22nd minute.

Madrid’s win puts them five points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who host Getafe on Sunday. England star Jude Bellingham made his return from summer shoulder surgery, coming off the bench in the final minutes.

“We can’t be doing any better,” defender Dani Carvajal told Real Madrid TV. “The good thing is we’re improving in the way the coach wants us to play, and the results show it. I think the performance was complete and we barely suffered defensively. We’re still top of the table, and that was our objective.”

Mbappe, who scored twice from the spot in midweek as Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with victory over Marseille, delivered again to maintain Los Blancos’ flawless record across all competitions. His strike, set up by Vinícius Junior, effectively killed the contest.

Espanyol, who had arrived in the capital in third place, were handed a harsh reminder of the gap at the very top. They have not beaten Madrid at the Bernabéu since 1996, and never looked close to ending that run.

Vinícius, recalled to the starting XI, showed flashes of quality despite still being short of his best. The Brazilian was denied by the woodwork after Dmitrovic had pulled off a sharp double save from Mbappe.

Alonso also handed young striker Gonzalo Garcia a rare start, before introducing Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga in the closing stages to ease them back into action.

Elsewhere in LaLiga, Levante crushed Girona 4-0 in Catalonia. The hosts finished with nine men and sit bottom of the table without a win, a steep fall after their remarkable third-place finish last season.

“After five weeks we are the worst team in the league and all we can do is work hard,” admitted Girona coach Michel Sanchez. “It will be difficult, but we’re not giving up.”