The star striker matches legendary Ronaldo\u2019s 2013 tally of 59 goals
\n MADRID
\nKylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga.
\nFrench superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo\u2019s tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Bellingham sent Madrid ahead with a first half header.
\nThe victory allowed Los Blancos, second, to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the Catalans visit Villarreal on Sunday.
\n\u201cTo do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid\u2019s history and a world great, it\u2019s an honour for me,\u201d said Mbappe, who turned 27 on Saturday. Gaining a third consecutive win across all competitions, after managing just two in the previous eight games, marginally eases the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso even though the performance was still underwhelming.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got some time now to analyse and reflect where we are now,\u201d Alonso told reporters ahead of the winter break. \u201cWe want to do better, we\u2019re self-critical, we got the three points and now we\u2019ll use this time and try to start the year better.\u201d
\nSevilla, who thrashed champions Barcelona 4-1 in October, started strongly with veteran Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez heavily involved.
\nOdysseas Vlachodimos made a fine save to thwart Fran Garcia at the other end, and as the minutes ticked by Madrid began to find more of a foothold. Bellingham headed the hosts in front at the Santiago Bernabeu after Rodrygo Goes whipped in a dangerous free-kick.
\nThe Brazilian forward was booked for diving before the break as he tumbled in the box under little pressure.
\nSanchez landed the ball on the roof of Thibaut Courtois\u2019s net before the break with an acrobatic effort.
\nSevilla coach Matias Almeyda was sent off at half-time for dissent, but his team plugged away in search of an equaliser regardless.
\nCourtois twice denied Isaac Romero early in the second half, while Mbappe intensified his search to emulate Ronaldo\u2019s record. Mbappe headed against the crossbar and whipped a shot narrowly wide, while Vlachodimos fended off another effort from the forward. Sevilla defender Marcao clumsily slid in to foul Bellingham after 67 minutes and was sent off for a second yellow card, hampering his side\u2019s chances of adding to Alonso\u2019s struggles.
\nMadrid almost scored a second when Mbappe teed up Rodrygo, who lifted the ball into the air and then lashed it towards goal, but Vlachodimos superbly tipped it onto the crossbar.
\nMbappe\u2019s 59th
\nEventually Mbappe got the goal he craved from the penalty spot, after Juanlu clumsily brought down Rodrygo.
\nThe forward sent Vlachodimos the wrong way as he stroked in his 59th of the year, to match Ronaldo\u2019s record.
\nMbappe copied Ronaldo\u2019s trademark celebration and said it was a nod to the Portuguese great, Madrid\u2019s all-time top goalscorer. \u201cI wanted to give him a wink because he\u2019s always been kind to me,\u201d said Mbappe.
\n\u201cHe was my idol as a kid, I have a very good relationship with him, he\u2019s a friend now.\u201d Madrid were awarded another penalty when Bellingham went down in the box but it was ruled out after a VAR review showed Sevilla defender Oso got the ball.
\nThe referee then gave Madrid another penalty as Sow fouled Rodrygo on the edge of the box, but the offence was just outside the area and it was again scrapped.
\nMbappe whipped the free-kick narrowly over the top corner as he battled in vain to go beyond Ronaldo\u2019s mark, but he will have to try again in 2026.
\n\u201cScoring 59 goals is not easy, he\u2019s got quality and talent \u2014 it\u2019s hard to stop him in training,\u201d said Courtois, who called on the whole team to take a step forward next year.
\n\u201cHopefully 2026 comes with trophies, but for that we have to improve our level,\u201d he added.
\nElsewhere Celta Vigo rose to seventh even though they could only draw 0-0 at struggling Real Oviedo, while Levante held Real Sociedad 1-1. Osasuna thrashed Alaves 3-0 to go 12th.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The star striker matches legendary Ronaldo\u2019s 2013 tally of 59 goals MADRID Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga. French superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo\u2019s tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-521383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n