Kylian Mbappe once again delivered a brilliant performance for Real Madrid, inspiring them to a convincing 3-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao and cutting the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona back to just a point.
Barcelona had briefly pulled four points clear at the summit after their 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, placing added pressure on Xabi Alonso’s side.
Madrid arrived in Bilbao having drawn their previous three league matches and with just one win in five outings across all competitions.
However, Mbappe ensured that run did not continue, striking early to put Los Blancos ahead in the seventh minute at San Mames before setting up Eduardo Camavinga for the second just before the interval.
The Frenchman then wrapped up a comfortable night for the visitors with another classy finish in the 59th minute, ensuring all three points returned to the capital.
Mbappe strikes early to lift Madrid
The warning signs came quickly for Athletic as Unai Simon denied Mbappe with a superb stop only four minutes in.
Moments later, he could do nothing to stop the inevitable, with Mbappe controlling a sensational cross-field ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold, cutting inside a defender and firing a thunderous effort into the top corner.
Athletic responded well and forced Thibaut Courtois into a pair of key saves, first from Gorka Guruzeta and then from Alex Berenguer, but their missed chances proved costly.
Real Madrid made them pay in the dying minutes of the first half. A slick exchange around the penalty area saw Alexander-Arnold float a perfectly placed cross, which Mbappe headed back across goal for Camavinga to nod home.
Trent injury concern amid dominant display
Alexander-Arnold’s evening, though, was cut short as he limped off 12 minutes into the second half, adding another worry to what has been a frustrating debut season in Spain.
The injury did nothing to halt Madrid’s rhythm. Mbappe climbed to 25 goals across La Liga and the Champions League when he drilled a low shot inside Simon’s near post, ensuring there would be no late drama in Bilbao.
Camavinga also exited with what looked like a knock, giving Alonso potential selection headaches with a Champions League showdown against Manchester City looming in a week.
Still, the Madrid coach will be pleased to see his team rediscover their swagger, with Celta Vigo next up at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday.
