Mbappe fires Madrid to victory at Real Oviedo
AFP, Spain :
Kylian Mbappe was again on target for Real Madrid as they overcame Real Oviedo 3-0 in La Liga on Sunday.
For Oviedo, returning to Spain’s top flight after an absence of almost a quarter of a century, the arrival of the 15-time European champions was a gala occasion, and the Asturian fans made their presence heard.
Star turns Mbappe and Vinicius Junior made the difference in the north of Spain. The Frenchman notched a brace before the Brazilian slid in a late third. Coach Xabi Alonso made a couple of notable changes to his starting line-up from Madrid’s opening 1-0 win against Osasuna, dropping Vinicius and Trent Alexander-Arnold for Rodrygo Goes and club captain Dani Carvajal, returning from injury.
The dropped Vinicius responded by producing an assist and a goal in his half-hour cameo.
“It was a very serious, very complete game,” said Alonso. “With and without the ball. Playing as a team. “And Vini came on and had a role in those two goals that gave us peace of mind. There will be games for everyone.
“Decisions are made with the team in mind, and that’s how it was today.”
Argentinian teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono made his full debut in another change for Los Blancos.
The 18-year-old showed his explosive dribbling ability early on when he burst past two defenders into the Oviedo box before going down and looking appealingly at the uninterested referee.
A rare foray forward by the hosts saw Leander Dendoncker try to catch Thibaut Courtois out with a chipped effort in the 23rd minute, but the Belgian shotstopper easily gathered the ball.
Madrid came close to forcing a breakthrough when Arda Guler’s drive from inside the box was excellently saved by goalkeeper Aaron Escandell.
The Turkish international turned provider as he drilled a pass into Mbappe’s feet on 37 minutes, which the Frenchman welcomed on the turn before firing across Escandell.
The goal was met by furious protests from the home side. Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni seemed to follow through strongly on Dendoncker when winning possession back for his side in the build-up.
Rodrygo and the lively Mastantuono made way for Vinicius and Brahim Diaz just after the hour.
Diaz immediately created a chance for the galloping Fede Valverde, but Escandell produced a fingertip save.
Kwasi Sibo came within inches of sending the home support wild when, out of nowhere, he struck the post for Oviedo with Courtois rooted to the spot on 81 minutes.
That chance woke Madrid up. Vinicius won the ball two minutes later and drove forward before slipping a disguised pass to Mbappe who slotted home first time.
The Brazilian scored in the 93rd minute, when Diaz found him in space and he slid home a composed finish.
Elsewhere, Villarreal hammered Girona 5-0 at home as new signing Tajon Buchanan netted a hat-trick to open his La Liga account.
A second-consecutive defeat to start the season leaves Girona, who played Champions League football last season, bottom of the table with seven goals conceded and none scored.
“When you don’t compete at 100 percent, a team of Villarreal’s calibre will run you over,” said Girona coach Michel Sanchez.
“That’s what happened. We play for the pride and respect of the people and we didn’t do the job we should have done.”
The home side raced into a 4-0 lead inside 30 minutes, with Nicolas Pepe and Rafa Marin scoring as Buchanan grabbed a brace.
The Canadian then got his third four minutes after the hour to cap a scintillating performance by the Yellow Submarine.
Real Sociedad fought back from being 2-0 down at half-time in the Basque country to earn a point against Espanyol.
Pere Milla and Javi Puado gave the Catalans the lead, before Ander Barrenetxea and Orri Oskarsson hit back for Sociedad in eight second-half minutes.
Ante Budimir’s ninth-minute goal gave Osasuna a 1-0 win over 10-man Valencia.