Vinicius Junior delivered the decisive moment as Real Madrid edged past Sevilla 1-0 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, securing back-to-back La Liga victories for the first time since March. The Brazilian winger struck in the 15th minute, adding to his 22-goal tally across all competitions this season, while Kylian Mbappe endured a frustrating return to the starting lineup following recent tension with the home crowd.
Mbappe's recall came just days after being booed during Madrid's win over Real Oviedo, but his evening in Seville proved underwhelming despite flashes of technical brilliance. The French forward registered zero shots on target from five attempts, lost possession 15 times, and won only two of ten ground duels. His most impactful contribution was indirect—using his physical presence to create space for Vinicius's opening goal, though the build-up sparked controversy when his elbow caught a Sevilla defender's face. The officials overlooked the incident, allowing play to continue and Vinicius to finish clinically.
Mbappe's Missed Opportunities Prove Costly
The 27-year-old forward thought he had doubled Madrid's advantage when he rounded goalkeeper Dmitrovic and slotted home in the second half, only for the assistant referee to flag him offside. A superb backheel nearly created a chance for Aurelien Tchouameni, showcasing Mbappe's creative instincts, but Madrid's attack lacked the cutting edge expected from their record signing. Meanwhile, Vinicius's clinical finishing and movement proved the difference on a night when Madrid rarely reached their full potential.
Real Madrid's defensive discipline proved decisive as the hosts pressed for an equaliser. Thibaut Courtois produced several outstanding saves, denying Kike Salas with a fingertip parry over the crossbar in the closing stages. Madrid have now remained unbeaten in their last 27 La Liga matches when scoring first, underlining their resilience when ahead. Despite Sevilla's lowly table position, they pushed hard until the final whistle but lacked the precision to breach Madrid's rearguard.
The victory preserves Madrid's pride in second place, 11 points behind champions Barcelona following their El Clásico triumph. With their final fixture against Athletic Club on May 23, Madrid will look to finish the season on a high note while Mbappe seeks redemption after another subpar display in the famous white shirt.
