Mbappé Scores Twice as Real Madrid Smash Athletic 3–0 to Reignite LaLiga Title Race

Kylian Mbappé returned to unstoppable form and dragged Real Madrid back into the LaLiga title fight with a dominant 3–0 win over Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabéu. The French superstar delivered two spectacular goals and led a performance that ended Madrid’s worrying streak of three matches without a victory. Eduardo Camavinga added another to seal a statement win that puts Los Blancos just one point behind league-leaders Barcelona.

This match opened Matchday 19 due to the upcoming Spanish Super Cup in January. Real Madrid had been struggling, drawing against Girona, Elche, and Rayo Vallecano, and winning only once in their previous six matches across all competitions. But Mbappé erased any talk of crisis within minutes.

Madrid’s No. 9 electrified the Bernabéu in the 7th minute, recovering a loose ball near midfield and exploding forward before placing a perfect shot into the bottom corner for a brilliant opener. Camavinga extended the lead in the 42nd minute with a close-range header, and Mbappé returned in the 59th with a thunderbolt from nearly 30 meters — a shot so powerful the goalkeeper couldn’t react.

There was some concern for Madrid despite the victory. Camavinga was subbed off in the 69th minute with discomfort, and Trent Alexander-Arnold also left early, in the 55th minute, due to a muscular issue. Their statuses will be monitored closely ahead of a challenging stretch.

Athletic Club now faces a brutal week at San Mamés. They host Atlético Madrid on Saturday, December 6, before welcoming PSG in a decisive Champions League match on Wednesday, December 10.

Real Madrid returns to the Bernabéu this Sunday, December 7, to face Celta Vigo, just days before a high-stakes showdown with Manchester City in Europe. The victory restores confidence inside Xabi Alonso’s squad at a pivotal moment of the season. If Mbappé maintains this unstoppable level, the LaLiga title race is poised to ignite in the coming weeks.