The key facts

  • Real Madrid — Sevilla 4:1: goals from Güler (30'), Mbappé (37', 63' penalty), Diomande (82'); Sevilla's goal came from Manu Bueno (80')
  • Real Madrid are third (21 points), 6 points behind Barcelona; Sevilla are sixth (14 points)
  • Sevilla coach Luis García Plaza was outraged that Güler was not shown a red card; Madrid fans protested against Tebas

Course of the match

Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4:1 in the Matchday 9 fixture of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, a week before El Clásico against Barcelona. The hosts' starting lineup featured Endrick on the right flank of the attack and Jan Diomande on the left in place of the suspended Vinícius Júnior. In the 30th minute, Arda Güler opened the scoring with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box after a pass from Diomande — according to Anadolu, the ball curled into the far corner, while according to AFP it went into the top corner. In the 37th minute, Mbappé doubled the lead: after a backheel from Jude Bellingham, he entered the box, rounded goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos and scored. AFP describes this episode as one of the goals of the season, featuring a 'roulette' on the approach to the box; Sevilla unsuccessfully complained about a foul on Robbi Yure at the start of the move.

Second half and controversial episodes

In the 63rd minute, Mbappé converted a penalty with a Panenka after falling in a collision with Andrés Castrín — AFP notes the contact was light. It was his ninth league goal. In the 80th minute, substitute Manu Bueno reduced the deficit with a left-footed strike after an assist from Lucas Stassin, but two minutes later Diomande restored the three-goal lead with a powerful shot — according to Anadolu, following a long ball from Tchouaméni with an assist, and according to AFP, from outside the box. It was the Ivorian's second goal since arriving from RB Leipzig in the summer. In first-half stoppage time, Thibaut Courtois saved a shot from Lucien Agoumé. An early episode involving Güler's elbow against Peque went unpunished. Sevilla coach Luis García Plaza said his team had been denied the chance to play 11 against 10 from the 25th minute and suggested the red card was not shown so that Madrid would not approach the Clásico with a nine-point deficit. José Mourinho replied that he had not seen replays of the episode.

Context and standings

The win lifted Real Madrid to third place — 21 points from nine matches, six points behind leaders Barcelona, who thrashed Betis on Saturday; Atlético are second. Sevilla remained sixth with 14 points. Madrid fans in the stands chanted and held banners against La Liga president Javier Tebas after his remarks that the club's strategy of discrediting referees resembles the methods of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. The club and Mourinho have sharply criticized Spanish refereeing in recent weeks. 'We played an excellent match... we are a team and we are working on improvement, we have been together for a very short time,' Mourinho told Real Madrid TV. Güler, according to Anadolu, now has two goals and three assists in nine league matches. In other Matchday 9 fixtures: Osasuna — Racing Santander 2:0, Celta — Alavés 2:1, Málaga — Real Sociedad 2:5. El Clásico at the Camp Nou will take place on Sunday, October 25.