Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0, moving back to the top of La Liga after a period of poor form, supporter frustration and a coaching change.
Mbappé struck in the 47th minute and added a penalty in injury time, lifting Madrid two points above Barcelona. Barcelona can reclaim first place by beating bottom side Real Oviedo at home.
The goals were Mbappé’s Liga-leading 20th and 21st in 20 appearances. Madrid has stayed close to Barcelona despite firing Xabi Alonso after a loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final and then exiting the Copa del Rey against a second-tier opponent in Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut.
Arbeloa has now overseen three comfortable victories in a row. He praised Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, whose work on the ball helped create both goals, saying they are among the world’s best players and that Madrid try to give them as many touches as possible.
Mbappé finishes after Vinícius pressure
Villarreal Pape Gueye, back after scoring Senegal’s extra-time winner over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, started for Villarreal and nearly scored with a long effort in the first half.
Madrid broke through just after halftime. Vinícius Júnior drove to the endline on the left and squared the ball, Gueye deflected it, and Mbappé reacted first before firing under Luiz Júnior.
Gerard Moreno missed Villarreal’s best chance to level in the 63rd minute, sending a shot high after a set play left him alone in the middle of the area. Mbappé later converted from the spot after Alfonso Pedraza tripped him.
Brahim Díaz, who had missed a late penalty for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, came on as a second-half substitute for Madrid. Villarreal also lost Argentina defender Juan Foyth to a left leg injury in the first half.
Villarreal still has one game in hand but dropped to fourth place, 10 points behind Madrid.
Valencia, Sevilla and Osasuna also win
Valencia beat Espanyol 3-2 after a disputed injury-time penalty against Rubén Sánchez for a foul on Lucas Beltrán. The decision stood after video review, and Largie Ramazani converted the winning penalty as fifth-placed Espanyol’s winless run reached four games.
Sevilla came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1, ending a five-game winless run. Osasuna won 3-1 at Rayo Vallecano to move into eighth place.
Only four points separate Osasuna from Getafe in 17th in a tight lower half of the table that also includes Rayo, Sevilla and Athletic. A minute of silence was held before kickoff across the weekend’s games for the victims of two deadly train wrecks in Spain.