Vinicius Jr scored twice and Kylian Mbappe was on target yet again as Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid saw off Villarreal to avoid consecutive league defeats and secure a convincing 3-1 win over the 10 men at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. The visitors were reduced 10 men in the second half when Santiago Mourino was sent off, while Mbappe was forced off late on through injury.

France manager Didier Deschamps claims Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe possesses a remarkable range of abilities, adapting his game depending on the system, though he thrives most in a central role. The 26-year-old has recently become France’s second-highest goal scorer, surpassing national legend Thierry Henry, and continues to lead Les Bleus in their World Cup qualifiers.

Kylian Mbappe was left raving about Achraf Hakimi’s performance for Paris Saint-Germain in the French side’s Champions League victory over Barcelona, with the Real Madrid superstar admitting that his close friend is “too much” to handle when performing at the peak of his powers. The buccaneering full-back put in another classy display as the reigning kings of European football claimed another notable scalp in Catalunya.

Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-0 Champions League win over Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, but the French star still left the pitch frustrated at not taking all of his chances. The 26-year-old, who has now scored 13 goals this season, believes finishing opportunities is exactly what he was brought to the club to do.

Inter chairman Giuseppe Marotta has cast a bleak verdict on Serie A’s pulling power, admitting that Kylian Mbappe is out of reach for Italian clubs and hailing Luka Modric as the league’s only “champion” at 40 years old. Speaking right before Inter’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, Marotta praised his club’s progress but underlined the financial gulf separating Serie A from Europe’s elite.