Mbappe brace powers Real Madrid past Sevilla 4-1 as form returns before El Clasico

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points with a 4-1 win over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu, a week before the rivals meet in El Clasico.

A day earlier, Barcelona had thrashed Real Betis 5-2. Real took the field carrying that pressure, and despite the absence of the suspended Vinicius Jr, produced the fluid attacking football the team had been lacking of late.

Once again, Arda Guler orchestrated their best work. After a stale opening, the Turkish international sparked the match into life.

Sevilla appealed for a red card following an incident involving Guler and Peque Fernandez, but Guler responded minutes later by collecting Yan Diomande's pass and arrowing a shot into the top corner to put Real ahead.

Mbappe scored an equally impressive second in the 37th minute, turning brilliantly to burst through on goal before calmly beating Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Fede Valverde, restored to right back by coach Jose Mourinho, made a crucial block to deny Felix Correia just before the hour as Sevilla threatened to work their way back into the contest.

Diomande then exploited the space created by Sevilla's more adventurous approach, evading his marker before sending Mbappe in behind the defence. Andres Castrin brought down the French forward, who got to his feet to convert the resulting penalty and effectively settle the contest.

Substitute Manu Bueno reduced Sevilla's arrears with a composed finish 10 minutes from time after Mbappe cheaply surrendered possession deep inside his own half. But Diomande restored Real's three-goal advantage two minutes later, capping a fine display with a thunderous strike.

Eder Militao received a warm ovation when he came on in the 85th minute for his first appearance since undergoing hamstring surgery in April.

Real, who have won three straight games in all competitions following the international break, climbed to third on 21 points, one behind Atletico Madrid, while Sevilla are sixth on 14 points.

Earlier on Saturday, Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 to make it nine wins from nine and stretch their league tally to 39 goals. Lamine Yamal lit the fuse with a dazzling opener before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and substitute Dani Olmo joined the party, while Valentin Gomez and Ez Abde replied for Betis.

Next Sunday brings the pivotal meeting with Barcelona. Mourinho will take encouragement from one of the most complete performances of his second spell at Real — and the form of the Mbappe-Guler pairing is now Real's biggest source of confidence before El Clasico.