Kylian Mbappé Shines as Real Madrid Defeats Athletic Club 3-0

Real Madrid secured a crucial 3-0 victory against Athletic Club at San Mamés on December 3, 2025, marking a significant turnaround after a series of disappointing results. The win brought Los Blancos within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who had temporarily extended their lead with a recent victory. Kylian Mbappé was the standout performer, scoring two goals and providing an assist, while Eduardo Camavinga also found the net.

Sports Illustrated

The match began with Real Madrid displaying an intensity that had been lacking in their previous outings. Mbappé opened the scoring in the seventh minute, capitalizing on a long pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He showcased his skill by outpacing defenders and curling a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. This goal marked his 16th in La Liga this season, further solidifying his position as the league's top scorer.

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Real Madrid's second goal came just before halftime, with Mbappé heading a cross from Alexander-Arnold to Camavinga, who scored with a close-range header. The French forward then sealed the victory in the 59th minute with a powerful long-range shot that caught Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón off guard. Despite the scoreline, Athletic Club had opportunities to score, but Thibaut Courtois made several crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet.

Mbappé masterclass inspires thumping win at San Mamés

The match statistics reflected Madrid's dominance, with 62% possession and a total of 13 shots compared to Athletic's 7. The visitors also had a higher expected goals (xG) value of 2.04 compared to Athletic's 0.87, indicating their offensive efficiency.

Numbers Narrative: Athletic Club 0-3 Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's head coach, praised his team's performance, stating, "We wanted to break the pattern a bit... the team performed very well overall." He emphasized the importance of the victory after a challenging stretch of three consecutive draws in La Liga. Alonso also highlighted Mbappé's exceptional form, noting, "He's in great form... his movement and link-up play with Vini [Vinícius Júnior] was very good."

ESPN

Despite the victory, concerns linger regarding injuries to key players. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eduardo Camavinga were substituted due to injuries during the match, raising questions about their availability for upcoming fixtures. Alonso acknowledged the need for squad depth, especially with a demanding schedule ahead.

ESPN

Following this victory, Real Madrid will return home to face Celta Vigo in another important La Liga match. The team aims to build on this momentum as they continue to chase Barcelona at the top of the table. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial for Alonso as he seeks to solidify his position as head coach amid ongoing speculation about his future.

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• “The team came out focused from the first minute to win the game with intensity and good tempo.” — Xabi Alonso, Head Coach

Xabi Alonso: “The team came out focused to win, with intensity and good tempo”

• “It was an important match because we wanted to break the (bad) dynamic,” — Xabi Alonso, Head Coach

Reuters

• “ His saves at San Mamés “These are important moments when the team needs me and I'm happy to do that, especially in the second half.” — Thibaut Courtois, Goalkeeper

Courtois: “It was a really important match and at a tough ground”

This comprehensive victory not only boosts Real Madrid's title hopes but also reinforces the team's attacking prowess, led by the dynamic partnership of Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.

ESPN