European Football Weekend Highlights: Mbappé Leads Real Madrid's Climb in La Liga

The weekend was action-packed across Europe as football fans witnessed thrilling matches, standout performances, and major shake-ups in league standings. From La Liga to Serie A and the Bundesliga, here’s everything you need to know about this week’s top football action.

Mbappé Stars in Real Madrid’s 4-2 Win Over Sevilla

Kylian Mbappé silenced critics with a stunning performance as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4-2 in a crucial La Liga fixture. The French superstar opened the scoring with a thunderous strike in the 10th minute and later set up Brahim Díaz for Madrid’s fourth goal.

Federico Valverde and Rodrygo also scored for the reigning champions, who now sit just one point behind league leaders Atlético Madrid. Sevilla’s goals came from Isaac Romero and Dodi Lukebakio, but the visitors were unable to close the gap.

Mbappé, who faced criticism earlier this month for missing a penalty against Athletic Bilbao, called the match a turning point in his Real Madrid career. “I hit rock bottom, but that moment made me stronger,” Mbappé said in a post-match interview.

Serie A: Atalanta Back on Top

Atalanta reclaimed the Serie A top spot with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Empoli. Charles De Ketelaere’s late winner sealed the deal, showcasing his brilliance in the dying moments.

Empoli took an early lead through Lorenzo Colombo, but Atalanta fought back with goals from De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman before halftime. Empoli leveled the match with a penalty converted by Sebastiano Esposito, but De Ketelaere’s solo effort in the 86th minute secured the win.

Elsewhere, Paulo Dybala shone for Roma, scoring twice in a 5-0 demolition of Parma. Meanwhile, Juventus broke their stalemate streak with a 2-1 victory over Monza, climbing to sixth in the standings.

Bundesliga: Dortmund’s Rapid Comeback Secures Victory

Borussia Dortmund climbed to sixth in the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg, scoring all three goals in a five-minute burst during the first half. Donyell Malen opened the scoring, followed by Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt finding the net in quick succession.

Despite being reduced to 10 men after Pascal Gross’s red card, Dortmund held on for the win. Bayern Munich, however, remain unshaken at the top of the table after thrashing RB Leipzig 5-1 earlier in the weekend.

What’s Next for European Football?

As the leagues head into the winter break, the race for titles is heating up. Can Real Madrid overtake Atlético Madrid in La Liga? Will Atalanta maintain their lead in Serie A? And will Dortmund find consistency in their chase for European qualification?

Stay tuned for more updates as European football resumes in 2024, promising more drama, goals, and unforgettable moments!

Reference from:-https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/22/european-football-mbappe-real-madrid-dybala-roma