Kylian Mbappé struck his fourth UEFA Champions League hat-trick as Real Madrid emphatically recovered from their derby humiliation, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Kairat in Almaty.
Just days after Xabi Alonso’s men were stunned 5-2 by Atlético Madrid, Los Blancos endured a grueling 13-hour journey to Kazakhstan.
Alonso shuffled his pack for the midweek test but retained Mbappé as the spearhead of attack and the Frenchman delivered in ruthless fashion.
The 25-year-old broke the deadlock midway through the first half, confidently dispatching a penalty after Franco Mastantuono was fouled by Kairat goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza.
Mbappé had already been denied by the shot-stopper minutes earlier, while Vinícius Júnior, captaining the side in Dani Carvajal’s absence, wasted a glorious chance by chipping wide.
Arda Güler kept Kalmurza busy with a series of long-range efforts, but the hosts also carved opportunities, Valeri Gromyko firing wastefully off target before the break.
Madrid tightened their grip early in the second half when Thibaut Courtois’s long clearance released Mbappé, who produced a delightful lob for his second of the night.
The home side tried to respond, with teenager Dastan Satpayev and Ofri Arad going close, but their momentum was soon checked.
Mbappé spurned a sitter after combining with Vinícius, only to make amends with 17 minutes remaining.
Rodrygo’s dazzling run set up Güler, whose clever touch found Mbappé, and the striker clinically finished first time to complete his treble and move to 15 goals in all competitions this season.
Madrid’s dominance continued into the closing stages, as substitute Eduardo Camavinga nodded in a Rodrygo cross on 83 minutes before Brahim Díaz sealed the rout with a sharp low strike in stoppage time.
With back-to-back group wins secured, Real Madrid brushed aside any derby hangover, while Mbappé once again underlined his status as the ultimate European game-changer.
