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Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday night, overcoming an early setback thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappé. the French superstar’s goals not only sealed the win but also propelled him past Brazilian legend Ronaldo in the club’s record books for most goals in a debut season.
Early shock but a quick response
The match at Estadio de la Cerámica started with a scare for los blancos. Villarreal took an early lead when Juan Foyth capitalized on a poorly cleared corner, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage within the first ten minutes. Real Madrid, still recovering from their midweek Champions League battle with Atlético Madrid, had to regroup quickly. Nine minutes after conceding, Mbappé struck back. after a save from Villarreal’s goalkeeper, the Frenchman was perfectly positioned to slot home the rebound, leveling the score at 1-1. just before halftime, he completed the comeback with a powerful shot into the right corner, securing a 2-1 lead that Real Madrid would not relinquish.
Mbappé’s record-breaking season
With his two goals, Mbappé reached 31 goals for Real Madrid, surpassing Ronaldo’s tally of 30 in his debut season (2002/03). he now stands behind only Iván Zamorano, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ruud van Nistelrooij on the list of highest-scoring players in their first season for the club.
Most goals in a debut season for Real Madrid:
- Iván Zamorano (1992/93) – 37 goals (45 matches)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (2009/10) – 33 goals (35 matches)
- Ruud van Nistelrooij (2006/07) – 33 goals (47 matches)
- Kylian Mbappé (2024/25) – 31 goals (44 matches) season ongoing
- Ronaldo (2002/03) – 30 goals (44 matches)
With at least 16 matches remaining in the season, including three Club World Cup group games, Mbappé has a strong chance of climbing even higher in the record books.
La Liga title race heats up
The victory places Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, but the title race remains intense. Barcelona, who have played two matches fewer, trail by just three points. with the season entering a crucial phase, every game becomes vital in Madrid’s pursuit of domestic and European glory. Despite a grueling Champions League battle earlier in the week, where Real Madrid eliminated Atlético Madrid after a dramatic penalty shootout, Ancelotti’s squad showed resilience and determination to grind out an important league win. as the season progresses, all eyes will be on Mbappé as he continues his record-breaking campaign and helps lead Real Madrid’s charge for silverware.
