Real Madrid win in La Liga, but Kylian Mbappe fires blanks in Bernabeu debut

MADRID – Spanish champions Real Madrid outplayed Real Valladolid 3-0 in La Liga on Aug 25, as Kylian Mbappe made his Santiago Bernabeu bow without finding the net.

Atletico Madrid comfortably beat last season’s surprise packages Girona by the same scoreline later on in the capital.

Real’s France striker Mbappe played at home for the first time in a Los Blancos shirt, but was largely frustrated by Valladolid’s defence.

Real midfielder Federico Valverde opened the scoring after 50 minutes and substitutes Brahim Diaz and Endrick struck late on.

Without the injured Jude Bellingham, Real created little in the first half but did enough after the break to earn their first win of the season, following an opening draw at Real Mallorca.

Still lacking fluency in attack, Carlo Ancelotti’s side stayed two points behind rivals Barcelona, who beat Athletic Bilbao on Aug 24.

“We were too slow in the first half, the second half we were much more active, there was more movement, much faster with the ball,” said Ancelotti.

Mbappe scored on his debut in the Uefa Super Cup triumph but, in La Liga, has failed to score in his opening two league matches.

“He’s a spectacular forward, very fast, moves well without the ball, attacks in behind. He had three or four chances (which were) created with his movement,” said Ancelotti.

“In this position, he will score like he always scores, I don’t think he needs to play from the left, in the centre. In the end he will score goals.”

Diaz secured Real’s win with a neat lobbed finish and then teed up 18-year-old Endrick, who drilled home at the near post to celebrate his debut in style.

“(Endrick) has got a lot of potential and, for his goal, he showed his quality. He’s a centre forward who plays in the box, in small spaces he’s very dangerous,” added Ancelotti.

In the later game, strikes from Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente and Koke helped Diego Simeone’s Atletico claim their first win of the campaign against Girona.

New signing Julian Alvarez

started for the Rojiblancos at their Metropolitano Stadium, while Conor Gallagher made his debut as a substitute after joining from Chelsea.

“The fans were really excited for this one, playing at home for the first time in some time, with new signings – a perfect night,” said Griezmann.

The hosts had control of the game as Michel Sanchez’s Girona, who finished third ahead of fourth-placed Atletico last term, struggled to make an impact.

Griezmann put Atletico ahead shortly before the interval with a hard and low free kick which caught out goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Llorente increased the lead early in the second half with a thunderbolt from outside the area which flashed into the roof of the net.

Koke wrapped up Atletico’s win on the counter-attack in stoppage time when Llorente put the ball on a plate for him to finish.

Girona, who lost several key players in the summer, have only one point from their first two matches.

“It’s a process. The season is long, but we want to get to our best version as soon as we can,” said Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu. AFP