Real Madrid beat Bilbao 3-0: Alien Mbappe

1. There are stadiums that are not for the hesitant. San Mames is one of them, considered a football cathedral, where cheers are as heavy as steel, where history weighs on the shoulders with every step.

In places like that, Real Madrid often either collapse or find a new saint. In the early match of round 19 of La Liga, the name mentioned was Kylian Mbappe .

Mbappe Bilbap Real Madrid 2.jpg — Mbappe broke through and scored a masterpiece. Photo: Diario AS

Real Madrid arrived in Bilbao in a state of limbo, out of sync, tired and full of doubts about Xabi Alonso. They stepped into “La Catedral” (the cathedral; as San Mames is called) with the burden of being 4 points behind Barcelona.

In Alonso's unrooted project, all eyes were on Mbappe. The French striker responded with spectacular performances.

The opening goal needed no preparation, no ceremony. It came as a matter of course.

Mbappe received a long pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right flank – a move that has been long unseen from the former Liverpool defender, who is often described as having a “magical” right foot – while in midfield.

Kiki controlled the ball like one would catch a butterfly in flight, made a breakthrough with graceful runs and excellent technique, reached the edge of the penalty area and kicked the ball with his right foot into the goal.

2. A goal in the 7th minute that hit San Mames' pride straight in the gut. No luck. No hope of salvation. Just the skill and instinct of a great goalscorer.

Too much space behind Real Madrid's defense created opportunities for Bilbao to break through. Nico backheeled the ball into the box, Berenguer shot from a one-on-one position but Thibaut Courtois saved it brilliantly.

Mbappe Bilbap Real Madrid 5.jpg — Mbappe's long-range shot sealed the 3-0 result. Photo: Diario AS

As Xabi Alonso continues to refine his tactical machine, he is fortunate to have at his disposal two otherworldly figures. Courtois shines in goal. Mbappe explodes on the other side of the pitch.

Before the end of the first half, Trent once again found Mbappe with a David Beckham-style cross to the far post, the French striker headed the ball for Camavinga to head in to double the gap.

On the Basque night, Mbappe didn’t play, he controlled. Everything he did was effective, becoming an obsession that made Bilbao a guest in his own home.

The game was decided after nearly an hour, with Alvaro Carreras credited with an assist this time despite doing little to add to his tally.

Carreras passed the ball to Mbappe to run into the penalty area to wait for coordination. However, Kiki adjusted his rhythm and shot hard from 27 meters away, the ball went very hard in a curve that was enough to get past Unai Simon's hands and straight into the net.

3. Two goals – he has five from outside the box this season, more than anyone else in Europe’s top five leagues. One assist. “La Catedral” fell silent. And then the numbers started to speak.

Mbappe has 55 goals in 2025, just five goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo's historic record in a calendar year.

Mbappe Bilbap Real Madrid 3.jpg — Mbappe maintains impressive form. Photo: Diario AS

Goals are no longer events. They are becoming a biological rhythm. Every weekend, every European night, Mbappe adds another line to an already crowded scoreboard.

Alien version of Mbappe is saving Real Madrid, saving Xabi Alonso when he participated in the team's last 9 goals: 7 goals, 2 assists for Bellingham and Camavinga.

In other words, without Mbappe, Real Madrid became silent. He did not simply score goals, but pulled the whole match around him.

Xabi Alonso is still under construction. His work is still scaffolding. But Mbappe has brought light to cover the gaps.

San Mames, the place that saw Mbappe hit rock bottom a year ago, has now become the stage for him to rise to the top.

After a dark November, with only 1 victory, Mbappe led Real Madrid to breathe a sigh of relief on a harsh field. Now it is time to think about Celta Vigo and Man City.

Comment (0)