Mbappe double fires Real Madrid to win at Villarreal / Photo: JOSE JORDAN - AFP
-
'No warning': Survivors say Nigerian air force bombed packed market
-
Pope says doesn't fear Trump, has 'moral duty to speak out' against war
-
'No fun': French hospital confronts laughing gas abuse
-
Pro-EU Magyar vows 'new era' in Hungary after ousting Orban in vote
-
UK Taylor Swift dance party stabbing spree 'avoidable': inquiry
-
Iran releases assets of football captain in Australia asylum row
-
French court jails Lafarge ex-CEO for funding IS in Syria
-
Atletico need 'personality' to prevent Barca comeback: Koke
-
Cameroon's Catholics divided on papal visit
-
South Africa's new DA leader vows to shed party's white image
-
Karol G honors Latinos in Coachella headline performance: 'Feel proud'
-
Pope's African tour begins in shadow of Trump ire
-
'Help me!': family's anguish over Equatorial Guinean lured into Ukraine war
-
Germany unveils 1.6 bn euro fuel price relief to tackle energy shock
-
Ukraine loan, frozen funds: how could Orban's ouster unblock EU?
-
What next for Pogacar, Van der Poel after Roubaix blow?
-
Orban loses Hungary vote to pro-Europe newcomer Magyar
-
US says to begin blockade of Iranian ports
-
Germany to cut fuel taxes amid Iran war energy shock
-
Pope Leo kicks off African tour under shadow of Trump's ire
-
Singer Luisa Sonza shares 'unique experience' of Coachella debut
-
Australia names Coyle first woman to lead army
-
Rashford with point to prove as Barca target Atletico comeback
-
Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, most since 1989: NGOs
-
Nuggets roll into NBA playoffs, Raptors clinch berth
-
Flagg's sensational rookie season ends with injury
-
Trump says 'not a big fan' of Pope Leo after his anti-war message
-
Spain's Sanchez calls China trade imbalance with EU 'unsustainable'
-
Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz
-
Rivers departing as Bucks coach after disappointing season
-
Raptors top Nets, grab No. 5 seed on last day of NBA regular season
-
Greece's ancient sites get climate-change checkup
-
Lost film of French cinema pioneer retrieved from US attic
-
Rory-peat at Masters has McIlroy hungry for more majors
-
Liverpool seek 'special' Anfield night to salvage troubled season
-
Pope Leo XIV heads to Algeria, first stop of African tour
-
Europe reacts to Hungarian leader Orban's electoral defeat
-
Rose frustrated by latest Masters near-miss
-
Scheffler left ruing slow start after Masters record bid falls short
-
Runoff looms as Fujimori leads troubled Peru vote
-
Spain's Sanchez seeks closer China ties amid strains with US
-
Zekelman Industries Appoints Jim Marsh as Executive Director of Digital & Mission Critical Infrastructure
-
Norsemont To Participate in The Inaugural Swiss Mining Institute Conference in Panama City April 15-16
-
FINTECH.TV Names Johny Fernandez as New Anchor, Tapping Veteran Journalist to Lead U.S.-Middle East Morning Programming and Pulso Del Mercado
-
LogoTags, The Leading Custom Challenge Coin Company in the USA, Introduces Express Custom Challenge Coins
-
Avel eCare Appoints Rich Sanders as Chief Operating Officer
-
Datavault AI Announces Upcoming Listing of Meme Coin Portfolio and Institutional RWA Token Suite on the Biconomy Exchange
-
Dr. David W. Allison Brings His Expertise in Breast and Body Surgery to Becker Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery
-
SPORT BEACH Announces Brand Advisory Board
-
David's Bridal Becomes One of the First Retailers to Enable End-to-End Purchases Within AI Chats
Mbappe double fires Real Madrid to win at Villarreal
Kylian Mbappe netted twice to claim Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Villarreal on Saturday and take his side top of La Liga.
Alvaro Arbeloa's team moved two points clear of rivals Barcelona, who host Real Oviedo on Sunday.
La Liga's top scorer Mbappe reached 21 goals for the season in the competition to help Madrid see off a spirited Villarreal side, now fourth in the table.
Arbeloa's side have won three consecutive matches across all competitions and victory at Villarreal could be a vital step in the revival of their season.
After the shock Copa del Rey defeat at second-tier Albacete in Arbeloa's first match at the helm, his Madrid have started to take shape.
The coach has made clear how important his star players are and none has been more crucial this season than Mbappe.
It was a lively but imprecise start at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica, as the game glowed but neither side was able to seriously threaten.
Georges Mikautadze lashed a volley narrowly wide after veteran forward Gerard Moreno found him with a floating cross.
At the other end Madrid midfielder Arda Guler fired straight at Villarreal stopper Luiz Junior after some tidy footwork, and then shot high over the bar at the end of a swift break.
Villarreal's Juan Foyth limped off hurt in a blow for the hosts, who created a good chance for Pape Gueye just before the break.
The Senegal midfielder, a champion at the Africa Cup of Nations last weekend, powered narrowly wide of the post.
Vinicius, who excelled in Madrid's Champions League 6-1 rout of Monaco in midweek, also came close with a rasping effort across Luiz Junior's goal and wide.
The 25-year-old Brazil forward went a 13th straight La Liga match without scoring, but was involved as Mbappe opened the scoring two minutes into the second half.
Vinicius came into the box from the left flank and his low cross was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to squeeze home his 20th league goal of the campaign from close range.
Villarreal had the better of the second half as they worked hard to pull level, but Moreno spurned their best chance by firing inches over when well-placed.
In stoppage time Mbappe was clumsily felled by Alfonso Pedraza in the box and the French forward cheekily dinked home the resulting penalty to seal Madrid's victory.
Th.Berger--AMWN