Real Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders FC Barcelona to just one point after a hard-fought and controversial 2-0 victory over Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The match, which aired on Sunday, December 21, Philippine time, was decided by a first-half strike from Jude Bellingham and a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe, which marked a personal milestone for the French superstar.
A Match Marred by Controversy and Missed Chances
The home side did not have things all their way, with Sevilla creating several promising opportunities in an uneven display from Carlo Ancelotti's team. Sevilla striker Isaac Romero missed a glaring early chance, clipping the ball wide, much to the audible frustration of the Bernabeu crowd. The visitors managed four attempts in the first half but failed to convert any, a flaw that would prove costly.
Real Madrid's breakthrough came in the 38th minute when English midfielder Jude Bellingham found the back of the net. The second half, however, descended into controversy. Real Madrid's Rodrygo avoided a potential second yellow card after stepping on the heel of Sevilla defender Marcao. Minutes later, Marcao himself was sent off after receiving a second booking for a foul on Bellingham.
Mbappe Seals the Deal with Historic Penalty
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute. Rodrygo, the beneficiary of the earlier non-call, was fouled in the box by Sevilla's Juanlu, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Up stepped Kylian Mbappe, who calmly converted the penalty to seal the three points for Los Blancos. More importantly, the goal was Mbappe's 59th across all competitions in 2025, a remarkable individual achievement in his first season with the club.
Other La Liga Action from the Weekend
Elsewhere in Spain's top flight, the weekend produced mixed results. Guillermo Almada's debut as Oviedo's third coach this season ended in a fourth consecutive 0-0 draw, this time against Celta Vigo at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium.
Osasuna powered away from the relegation zone with an emphatic 3-0 home win over Alaves. The victory was fueled by a spectacular 72nd-minute volley from Ante Budimir, who later added a penalty. Raul Garcia put the icing on the cake with a third goal in stoppage time.
At the bottom of the table, a 94th-minute penalty from Adrian de la Fuente earned Levante a crucial point in a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad, who had led through Take Kubo's first-half injury-time goal. Following the match, Real Sociedad announced Pellegrino Matarazzo as their new permanent head coach on a contract until June 2027.
Finally, the match between Valencia and Mallorca on Friday night ended 1-1. Samu Costa gave Mallorca the lead before Hugo Duro equalized for Valencia, a result that did little to ease either side's concerns near the lower part of the table.
