Real Madrid continued their winning start to La Liga with an easy 4-1 victory at Levante on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe netted his seventh league goal in six games as Xabi Alonso’s team kept their 100 percent record.
Vinicius Junior fired the visitors into a stunning lead with a great finish and Franco Mastantuono was also on target for leaders Real Madrid.
Second-place Barcelona travel to Real Oviedo on Thursday with Spanish champions five points behind Madrid.
“It was a good game, from the beginning, we were very firm at the back and the first goal was crucial, to take the lead and feel confident,” Alonso explained.
Vinicius was not pleased to be substituted by Alonso in the win against Espanyol on Saturday but the Brazilian winger played from the left wing and repaid.
Real Madrid thrash Levante as Mbappe scores brace
Since finishing second to Manchester City’s Rodri in last year’s Ballon d’Or vote Vinicius has lacked consistency.
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But he hit his stride at the Ciutat de Valencia ground and scored the opener after 28 minutes, after a sparkling beginning to the match.
“Vini was a very complete, very good game and I am extremely delighted for him,” stated Alonso.
Valencia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saved well from Vinicius and Mastantuono struck the bar from the rebound as Los Blancos threatened in the early going.
Then teed up by Fede Valverde on the box right, Vinicius employed the outside of his right boot to bend in a rich effort at the far post.
Early on, Ivan Romero and Adrian de la Fuente threatened for Levante but were pushed back and Madrid hit their second when Vinicius teed up Mastantuono, who shot into the top corner.
It was the bright 18-year-old forward’s maiden club goal since making his summer transfer from River Plate.
Ryan kept out Vinicius with a sound block from close range before half-time.
Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong, himself on good form at the beginning of the season, headed in his fourth goal from close distance after Romero’s cross was deflected and looped into the air.
It gave Levante a fleeting moment of hope but that was immediately crushed by Mbappe.
Unai Elgezabal awkwardly brought down the French star in the box and Mbappe cheekily dinked the ensuing penalty into the middle for the third.
Then two minutes later the striker, set free by Arda Guler, beat Ryan around the edge and tapped in his second of the evening.
‘A good path’
Mbappe struggled during his initial months at Madrid following a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, but returned to best in the latter part of the season.
The forward has taken that into the current campaign and has nine goals in seven games in all competitions to aid Madrid in getting the campaign off to perfect start.
“There are still things we can improve, but we’re on the right way and we must keep on that way,” Alonso stated, with Los Blancos hosting city rivals Atletico on Saturday.
“We’re in a building process… there’s still a lot we have to do.
“We’re constructing a good foundation, and in the squad many players feel united and relevant.”
Villarreal won 2-1 in Sevilla with a late goal to move into third place in the table, ahead of fourth-placed Espanyol who drew 2-2 with Valencia.
Bottom club Girona drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao, fifth.
