La Liga: Real Madrid wins but Kylian Mbappe fires Bernabeu blanks

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid secure 3-0 victories in La Liga as Mbappe makes home debut without scoring.

Spanish champions Real Madrid earned a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday (August 25, 2024) as Kylian Mbappe made his Santiago Bernabeu bow without finding the net.

Atletico Madrid comfortably beat last season’s surprise package Girona by the same scoreline later on in the capital.

Madrid’s French striker Mbappe played at home for the first time in a Los Blancos shirt but was largely frustrated by Valladolid’s defence.

Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde opened the scoring after 50 minutes and substitutes Brahim Diaz and debutant Endrick struck late on.

Without the injured Jude Bellingham Madrid created little in the first half but did enough after the break to earn their first win of the season, following an opening draw at Real Mallorca.

Still lacking fluency in attack, Carlo Ancelotti’s side stayed two points behind rivals Barcelona, who beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

“We were too slow in the first half, the second half we were much more active, there was more movement, much faster with the ball,” said Ancelotti.