Published: 09:51, May 19, 2025
Mbappe, Bellingham give Real Madrid 2-0 win over nine-man Sevilla
By Reuters
Sevilla's Lucien Agoume (left) in action against Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Real Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, May 18, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham scored late in the second half to give a depleted Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Sevilla, who ended the game with nine men after straight red cards to Loic Bade and Isaac Romero.

With leaders Barcelona having already secured the title after Thursday's 2-0 win at city rivals Espanyol gave them an unassailable lead with two games left to play, Real entered the game missing several regular starters including Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.

Sevilla were a man down after 11 minutes when Bade held Mbappe to stop a quick counter-attack, with the referee considering it was a clear scoring opportunity for Real and flashing a straight red card at the French defender.

However, despite dominating possession, Real struggled to create many chances with Mbappe and Endrick missing clear opportunities before the break.

Sevilla had a second player sent off three minutes after the restart when halftime substitute Isaac Romero's unpleasant studs up tackle on Aurelien Tchouameni earned another straight red card.

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Five minutes after hitting the crossbar with a shot in the 70th minute, Mbappe finally managed to break the deadlock, slotting a low strike from outside the box just inside the right post.

Sevilla's Jose Angel Carmona (right) in action against Real Madrid's Endrick during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Real Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, May 18, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Mbappe is close to becoming LaLiga's top scorer in his first season at Real Madrid with 29 goals, four ahead Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski.

In the 87th minute, 21-year-old Real Madrid academy forward Gonzalo Garcia crossed for Bellingham to tap in from close range to wrap up the win for the visitors.

"We played a great match and it was everyone's job," Real midfielder Federico Valverde told Real Madrid TV.

"It was a strange atmosphere, playing with Barcelona already having clinched the title, but in this club you always put everything on the line and, despite today we didn't have much at stake, we always have to defend this shirt."

Ahead of the final weekend of the season, Champions Barca have 85 points, four ahead second-placed Real Madrid, with Atletico Madrid in third on 73 points. Athletic Bilbao, on 70 points, and Villarreal, on 67, complete the top five, who will represent Spain next season in the Champions League.