Kylian Mbappe continued his fine start to life at Real Madrid, scoring twice in a comfortable 3-0 La Liga victory over newly-promoted Real Oviedo on Sunday.
For Oviedo, back in Spain’s top division after nearly 25 years, the visit of the 15-time European champions was a landmark occasion. The Asturian crowd created a vibrant atmosphere, but it was Madrid’s stars who shone on the pitch.
Mbappe and Vinicius Junior proved decisive in the north of Spain, with the Frenchman scoring a brace before the Brazilian added a late third.
Madrid manager Xabi Alonso made two changes from the side that edged Osasuna in their opening fixture, opting to rest Vinicius and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Rodrygo Goes and captain Dani Carvajal, back from injury, came into the starting eleven.
Vinicius made his mark off the bench, recording both an assist and a goal in a lively 30-minute cameo.
“It was a very serious, very complete game,” Alonso said afterwards. “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.”
Teenage Argentine Franco Mastantuono was handed his full debut and impressed with his explosive dribbling, bursting into the Oviedo area early on before going down under pressure, only for the referee to wave play on.
The hosts threatened briefly through Leander Dendoncker, whose chip was comfortably dealt with by Thibaut Courtois in the 23rd minute.
Madrid were denied by a fine save from Aaron Escandell after Arda Guler’s powerful effort inside the box, but the breakthrough came soon after.
Guler turned provider in the 37th minute, threading a pass to Mbappe, who turned sharply before finishing clinically across goal. Oviedo protested furiously, believing Aurelien Tchouameni had committed a foul on Dendoncker in the build-up, but the goal stood.
Rodrygo and Mastantuono were replaced just after the hour by Vinicius and Brahim Diaz. The change sparked fresh energy into Madrid’s attack. Diaz nearly assisted Fede Valverde immediately, only for Escandell to produce a fingertip save.
Kwasi Sibo nearly stunned the visitors with a strike that hit the post in the 81st minute, with Courtois beaten. However, Madrid responded instantly.
Two minutes later, Vinicius won the ball in midfield, surged forward and slipped a disguised pass to Mbappe, who calmly slotted home his second.
In stoppage time, Diaz picked out Vinicius in space, and the Brazilian made no mistake, slotting a composed finish to seal the victory.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Villarreal demolished Girona 5-0, with Canadian winger Tajon Buchanan netting a hat-trick in a scintillating home debut. Nicolas Pepe and Rafa Marin also found the net as the Yellow Submarine scored four times in the first half-hour.
Girona, who featured in the Champions League last season, are rooted to the bottom of the table after two defeats, 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.”
In San Sebastián, Real Sociedad came from 2-0 down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Espanyol. Pere Milla and Javi Puado scored for the visitors, before Ander Barrenetxea and Orri Oskarsson levelled the match with two quick second-half goals.
Meanwhile, Ante Budimir’s ninth-minute goal was enough to give Osasuna a 1-0 win over a 10-man Valencia side.