In the ninth round of the Spanish championship, Real Madrid secured a convincing home victory over Sevilla, crushing the Andalusians 4-1. The match took place while the hosts were deprived of one of their key players, as the suspended Vinicius Junior was unable to take the field. Nevertheless, the coach's team demonstrated squad depth and tactical maturity, seizing the initiative early in the first half and holding onto it until the final whistle. This victory proved crucial not only for the league standings but also psychologically, as Los Blancos are set to face Barcelona in El Clasico in a week's time.
Guler opens the scoring with a long-range strike
The first half favored the Madrid side, who gradually shifted the momentum in their favor. The turning point came in the 30th minute when Arda Guler unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. The ball traveled across the box and flew into the opponents' net, leaving Sevilla's goalkeeper with no chance. The long-range goal not only put Real ahead but also inflicted a psychological blow on the Andalusians, who had previously tried to build their game on possession. Just seven minutes later, Kylian Mbappe doubled the hosts' advantage: the French striker finished off a confident individual run with a precise shot into the far corner, displaying character and a cool head in finishing the attack.
Mbappe completes the job with a penalty and seals a brace
In the second half, Real continued to dictate terms on the pitch, controlling the ball and creating threats at the opponent's goal. In the 63rd minute, the referee awarded a penalty to Sevilla, and Mbappe converted from the spot without hesitation, bringing the score to 3-0 and completing his brace. For the French forward, this match served as yet another confirmation of his status as one of the tournament's main attacking players: two goals, one resulting from individual skill and the other from a coolly executed set-piece. Visually, the moment of Mbappe celebrating his brace alongside a teammate, captured in match photos (), emphasized the team spirit of a squad that, despite the absence of Vinicius, operated as a unified mechanism.
Sevilla responds, but Diomande puts the final nail
The visitors managed to reply only in the final twenty minutes of the encounter. In the 80th minute, Manu Bueno reduced the deficit by scoring Sevilla's only goal, bringing a glimmer of suspense back into the match. However, the Andalusians failed to turn the tide: just two minutes later, Yan Diomande capitalized on a host counterattack to establish the final scoreline of 4-1. Diomande's goal served as the concluding chord of the match, confirming that Real controlled the game throughout all 90 minutes and did not allow the opponent to pose a real threat to their goal.
Lunin remains on the bench as El Clasico approaches
Special attention should be paid to the coaching staff's personnel decision: Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin spent the entire match on the substitutes' bench, yielding his place in the starting lineup. This decision highlights the competitive environment within Madrid's goalkeeping department and the coaching staff's readiness to rely on rotation amidst a tight calendar. For Lunin himself, the match served as training under real competitive rhythm, which is important ahead of key autumn fixtures.
Victory as a rehearsal before Barcelona
The primary context of the victory over Sevilla is the upcoming El Clasico scheduled for October 25th. Real approaches the match against Barcelona on an upward trend: four goals scored, confident defensive play, and Mbappe's brace provide the coaching staff with additional tactical arguments. At the same time, Vinicius Junior's absence against Sevilla does not mean he will miss El Clasico—the matter of his suspension will be handled separately. In any case, the 4-1 result against Sevilla delivered an important signal: Real is capable of winning even without some of its stars, relying on squad depth and team discipline. It is precisely this quality that could prove decisive in the matchup against Barcelona in a week.
