Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in La Liga at the Estadio José Zorrilla on Saturday night courtesy of a Kylian Mbappé Hat-Trick with a goal in the first half and two in the second, extending the team’s lead at the top of the table to four points in the process.
Three answers
1. Would Lucas Vázquez return to the right?
After serving his suspension against Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek, Lucas Vázquez returned to the team and was available for coach Carlo Ancelotti. Given his recent form, struggling particularly on the defensive end, the question was whether he would return to a side. He didn’t do it. Perhaps the surprise was that Ancelotti did not recall Fede Valverde as he moved Raúl Asencio to the right with Aurélien Tchouameni returning to the team as a central defender. Asencio looked at home in his new role and was comfortable, rarely tested but confident and winning five duels and regaining possession five times. Late, Fede Valverde would return to the right, and it still seems that Ancelotti is evaluating his options. The good news is that it has several of them.
2. Would Vinicius be missed?
Before this game, Ancelotti was asked if Real Madrid’s victory over Las Palmas had shown that the team did not need Vinícius to win. “I think they have forgotten that we have already won two Champions League titles with him, that is my opinion,” he said, adding that he is “an undisputed player, without a doubt.” Here, Kylian Mbappé once again showed that he had all the star factor required to win games without the Brazilian. However, it is true that this victory could have been even more convincing with Vini on the field. His replacement, Brahim Díaz, did little to stand out and make the most of his opportunity. He may not have been missed, but the news that Ancelotti can rest Vinícius when necessary and still pick up points could be the silver lining for his two-game suspension.
3. Could Real Madrid win four in a row in La Liga for the first time since September?
Not since a 3-2 victory over Alavés at the Bernabéu on September 24 have they racked up four consecutive league wins. Then, it came with 2-0 wins over Real Betis and Real Sociedad, before a 4-1 win over Espanyol and victory against Alavés, with three of the four games coming at home and a 3-1 win over Stuttgart in the Champions League tight in the middle. This time the run goes back to the 4-2 home win over Sevilla in December, then the 2-1 comeback away to Valencia, last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing of Las Palmas and this win the Saturday night. During this run, Real Madrid also recorded four wins and one loss in the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and Champions League. Valladolid may have been inferior coming into this game, but they have won their last two home games while keeping clean sheets and have shown signs of improvement. Finally, Real Madrid seems to be gaining momentum.
three questions
1. How many goals will Kylian Mbappé score this season?
Kylian Mbappé scored his 20th hat-trick of his career and the first for Real Madrid when he hid a penalty in injury time to seal the victory. He has averaged a hat-trick every 25 games in his career, so it was just in time for Los Blancos to get their first. He also takes his return this season up to 22 goals in 33 games, and 15 goals in 20 games in La Liga, just one behind Pichichi Robert Lewandowski. Mbappe’s tally puts him on track to reach 40 goals this season, but his recent form of eight goals in his last five games will be terrifying opposition defenses. At this rate, 40 will be broadcast in March. The real bonus comes in that while Mbappé has underlined his XG for much of the season, he surpassed his XG but 1.79 on Saturday night, and is now surpassing his XG in La Liga for the first time this season with 15 goals compared to 14.7 xg.
2. Is Jude Bellingham now more of a creator than a finisher?
With his one and two order with Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham took his assist tally this season to seven in La Liga and 10 in total. That already surpassed the six league assists he managed on his debut in the 2023/24 season in 908 fewer minutes than he played last season. The Englishman’s role has evolved this season and his goal tally has decreased, but his creative contribution increases significantly. He created three chances in this game, more than any other player, and won a late penalty to allow Mbappé to finish his hat-trick. This was not Bellingham’s best night, and his frustration at having all three attempts on the goal blocked seemed to appear for the third time, but his contribution nevertheless remains crucial to Real Madrid’s collection points.
3. Will Mario Martín play for Real Madrid again?
One of the stories of the game was the participation of Real Madrid loanee Mario Martín in the Real Valladolid starting lineup. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder spent pre-season with Real Madrid and has four first-team appearances under his belt. The move to Valladolid this season seemed to give him more minutes, and he has with 20 appearances so far. However, his performance will be remembered for his second red card of the season in the final minutes after giving away a penalty and conceding a second yellow card. There is no shame in fighting attacking power of this quality, but it seems another loan or possibly even a permanent exit may be the most realistic next step in his career in the summer.