Mbappe equals Ronaldo record as Real Madrid beat Sevilla

French superstar Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record for goals in a calendar year as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in LaLiga.

Mbappe levelled Ronaldo’s tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Jude Bellingham sent Madrid ahead with a first half header.

The victory allowed Los Blancos, second, to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the Catalans visit Villarreal on Sunday.

To do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid’s history and a world great, it’s an honour for me,” said Mbappe, who turned 27 on Saturday.

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Gaining a third consecutive win across all competitions, after managing just two in the previous eight games, marginally eases the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso even though the performance was still underwhelming.

Alonso said: “We’ve got some time now to analyse and reflect where we are now.

“We want to do better, we’re self-critical, we got the three points and now we’ll use this time and try to start the year better.”

Elsewhere Celta Vigo rose to seventh even though they could only draw 0-0 at struggling Real Oviedo, while Levante held Real Sociedad 1-1. Osasuna thrashed Alaves 3-0 to go 12th.

The Star