Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
Kylian Mbappé equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record of 59 goals in a calendar year as he scored in a 2-0 win over Sevilla that trimmed Barça’s La Liga lead to just one point. In Italy, Juventus stayed firmly in the Scudetto conversation with a hard‑fought 2-1 home victory over Roma, powered by Francisco Conceição and Loïs Openda.
Mbappé’s Record Night At The Bernabéu
Real Madrid ended 2025 on a high by beating 10-man Sevilla 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu to move within one point of league leaders Barcelona. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a header before Mbappé converted a late penalty to seal the points and make history.
The French forward’s 86th‑minute spot‑kick was his 59th goal of 2025 across all competitions for Madrid, equalling the calendar‑year club record set by Ronaldo in 2013. Mbappé, celebrating his 27th birthday, marked the moment with a muted version of Ronaldo’s signature celebration before acknowledging the crowd.
Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
How The Match Unfolded
Madrid controlled the first half but needed Bellingham’s header seven minutes before the interval to finally break Sevilla’s resistance.
Both Bellingham and Rodrygo hit the woodwork, while Mbappé also struck the frame of the goal as Madrid created a steady flow of chances.
Sevilla’s task became harder when defender Marcao was sent off for a second yellow card in the 68th minute after a foul on Bellingham.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sevilla still threatened on the break and forced several big saves from Thibaut Courtois, who denied Alexis Sánchez and Isaac Romero to preserve Madrid’s lead. It was Rodrygo who finally won the decisive penalty after being tripped by Juanlu Sánchez, allowing Mbappé to step up and match Ronaldo’s mark.
Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
Mbappé’s Place In The Record Books
Mbappé’s 59 goals have come in 59 games across all competitions in 2025, giving him an extraordinary average of a goal roughly every 83 minutes. In La Liga alone he has dominated both the scoring charts and the big‑game moments, answering early doubts about his adaptation to Spain.
Only Lionel Messi, with 79 goals for Barcelona in 2012, has scored more for a single club in a calendar year among Europe’s top five leagues. Madrid’s own breakdown notes that Mbappé has matched Ronaldo’s tally but in his very first year in white, underlining the scale of the achievement.
Coach Xabi Alonso hailed him as “on his way to making history at Real Madrid”, while Mbappé himself called the record “incredible” and said it was special to be mentioned alongside his “idol” Ronaldo.
Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
Title Pressure On Barcelona
With this victory, Real Madrid sit second, one point behind Barcelona, who still have a tricky away fixture at Villarreal to close their league year. The result tightens a title race that had threatened to tilt towards Barça, ensuring the Clasico rivals head into 2026 separated by the smallest of margins.
Madrid’s recent surge has been built on a powerful spine: Courtois’ shot‑stopping, Bellingham’s box‑to‑box influence, and Mbappé’s relentless finishing. Sevilla, meanwhile, remain marooned in mid‑table, their spirited performance undermined by Marcao’s red card and wasted chances.
Juventus Edge Roma To Stay In Scudetto Hunt
In Turin, Juventus recorded a crucial 2-1 win over Roma to keep themselves firmly in the Serie A title and top‑four conversation. Goals from Francisco Conceição and Loïs Openda earned Juve their third straight victory in all competitions, while Tommaso Baldanzi struck Roma’s only goal.
Conceição broke the deadlock just before half‑time with a composed finish after Juventus had gradually increased the pressure on the visitors’ back line. Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar had already denied him from close range earlier in the half and also blocked a rebound from Openda, but could not prevent the opener.
Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
Openda’s First Serie A Goal
Juve doubled their lead on 70 minutes when Weston McKennie’s header was saved by Svilar, only for Openda to pounce on the loose ball and tap in his first Serie A goal. That strike capped an energetic all‑round display from the Belgian forward, who has now begun to translate his work‑rate into decisive contributions in front of goal.
Roma responded quickly through Baldanzi, who reacted first to a rebound after an Evan Ferguson effort was parried, setting up a tense final quarter of an hour. However, despite marginally out‑shooting Juve 14–13, Roma failed to convert territorial pressure into clear‑cut chances late on.
Juventus Climb, Roma Slip
The win lifts Juventus to 29 points, fifth in the table, but crucially just one point behind Roma, who occupy the final Champions League spot. It also narrows the gap to leaders Inter Milan to four points, putting Massimiliano Allegri’s side back in the title discussion after an inconsistent start to the season.
Juve have now won six of their last seven in all competitions after taking only five victories from their first 16 matches, a turnaround driven in part by the emergence of Kenan Yildiz. Against Roma, Yildiz created two chances, registered the most passes in the final third for Juve and even hit the woodwork with a curling effort as he again influenced proceedings heavily.
Roma, by contrast, have lost three of their last four league games and now face growing pressure in the race for Champions League qualification. Defensive lapses and an over‑reliance on late surges in attack have begun to cost them against direct rivals like Juventus.
Mbappé Fires Madrid Closer To Barça/sbkinews.in
European Picture: Stars And Stakes
Mbappé’s record‑equalling 59‑goal haul and Real Madrid’s tightening of the La Liga race headline another dramatic weekend across Europe. In Italy, Juventus’ resurgence ensures Serie A’s top‑four and title battles remain wide open as the season approaches its halfway point.
With Real breathing down Barcelona’s neck and Juve creeping up on Inter and Roma, both Spain and Italy head into the new year with heavyweight clashes and high stakes guaranteed.
