Real Madrid took three points in a match marked by a lack of intensity from two teams with nothing to play for but pride, and by two “own goals” from the home side that tipped the balance. Mbappé scored again, aiming for the Pichichi and the Golden Boot, as the least the Whites can hope for this season. Bellingham sealed the victory with five minutes to go.
Real Madrid and Sevilla with nothing at stake
What was supposed to be a big game on the calendar for Sevilla and Real Madrid, a match with history and rivalry that could have been a duel of great interest for both teams in their quest for the championship, ended up being a mere formality for both sides, with the home team safe in the lower half of the table with nothing to play for and Real Madrid with their eyes set on the Club World Cup. But the match did have some spice, with a tense atmosphere in Nervión due to the team’s year, and with the Whites having to settle for trying to prevent Mbappé from finishing as top scorer and winning the Golden Boot.
It was an afternoon in Seville that was perfect for football, with Real Madrid giving playing time to the less regular players, with Jacobo wanting to prove that with the arrival of Dean Huijsen, the defense is complete and that no one else needs to be signed, with Fran García rushing to take advantage of his opportunities in a squad where he seems to be running out of space, and with Modric sending a message to Florentino Pérez that that he could stay for another year. And although there was nothing at stake, Real Madrid’s obligation remained the same: to win.
And with this backdrop, a match began that was missing something, it lacked the rhythm and intensity expected in these encounters, where each team sought to dominate the game more through quality than intensity. That is why it was even more surprising that, after 12 minutes, Sevilla were reduced to ten men. It was a long ball from Jacobo Ramón that left Mbappé alone, but far from the area, and Badé recklessly brought down the Frenchman. The referee did not hesitate, and VAR did not overturn the decision.
The game turned in favor of Ancelotti‘s men, but they did not go crazy with their superiority. Their dominance of the game and their numerical advantage seemed to tilt the field towards Sevilla’s goal, by pure inertia, and the Whites accumulated chance after chance, without much danger, but adding attempts. First, it was Endrick from the right, getting to the edge of the box and shooting with his right foot when Mbappé was calling for the ball in front of goal. The goalkeeper saved it. Then came Valverde’s shot from outside the box, which was blocked by the opposing defense, and Tchouameni tried his luck on the edge of the box just before halftime with the same result.
But before this last chance, two plays could have changed the course of the game. Mbappé found himself in front of the goalkeeper after a great pass from Modric. He failed to control the ball, thanks to Gudelj, who did everything he could to make things difficult. The Frenchman shot wide.
And while Madrid were living in the opposition’s half, Sevilla almost caught them on the break. Jacobo Ramón gave away the ball without any real danger and García Pascual took advantage to get his foot in and get in front of Lunin. He tried to place the ball with the inside of his right foot, aiming for Lunin’s left-hand post, but it went just wide.
Sevilla disappear against Real Madrid
The start of the second half was inexplicable. Barely a few seconds had passed when Isaac, who had come on in the second half, recklessly tackled Tchouaméni, sliding in with his leg raised at shin height, and instead of pulling his leg back, he insisted on making contact. It was the VAR who alerted the referee, who did not hesitate after seeing the screen.
With an hour gone and two more players on the field, with the Sevilla fans protesting against Del Nido, Ancelotti’s men decided it was time to go for the game. Valverde had a chance, but Gudelj cleared it off the line. Then came Mbappé’s chance, which hit the post as he looked to find the top corner from the left side of the box.
And in the 74th minute, with the game broken and Sevilla bravely looking to pull off a shock, the inevitable happened. Mbappé received the ball outside the area, with plenty of space, and fired a low shot across the goalkeeper’s far post to score the goal that put the Whites ahead and kept him in contention for the Pichichi and the Golden Boot.
And in the 86th minute, the final nail was hammered into the coffin. A move involving several youth players set up Bellingham to seal the victory: Víctor Muñoz crossed from the left, Gonzalo headed the ball to the far post, and the Englishman tapped it into the net.
Real Madrid achieved their objectives, victory and a goal from Mbappé, but they treated the game as a formality and only pushed when they had to. Sevilla made life difficult for themselves with two avoidable red cards, but they did not give up, they were brave and tried to take advantage of their opponents’ lack of intensity.