La Liga 2025-26: Mbappé and Bellingham on target as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0

Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe scored to help Real Madrid beat 10-man Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in the final match of the year. This provided some relief for coach Xabi Alonso before La Liga takes a winter break.

Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute, and Mbappe added from the penalty spot in the 86th after Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles.

Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda was also sent off by the referee during half-time.

Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a string of poor results and the overall poor play of his star-studded squad. There is plenty of speculation in the Spanish sports media that the first-year coach could be replaced.

Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez has two weeks to consider the team’s future before the next match against Real Betis in January. 4.

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Alonso could not have afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost their previous two games. But Madrid fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances even after being down to ten men with 20 minutes to go.

Alexis Sánchez, still spry at 37, and right-back Juanlu Sánchez stood out most for a Seville side that poked holes in Madrid’s defence.

Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso Gonzalez four goals in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone further if it had shown more finishing touches early on.

The result was still in doubt until Mbappe converted his penalty after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.

Madrid (42 points) is in second place, one point behind leader Barcelona, ​​​​which visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.

Published on December 21, 2025