Mbappe on target as Real Madrid defeat Espanyol

AFP, Madrid:

In-form striker Kylian Mbappe netted again as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of La Liga.

Xabi Alonso’s Madrid has won all five of their opening league fixtures and French superstar Mbappe has netted five goals in the top flight.

Eder Militao opened the scoring with a screamer from distance after 22 minutes and Mbappe buried the second from outside the box early in the second half.

Madrid are five points clear of second-place champions Barcelona, who host Getafe on Sunday.
England international Jude Bellingham made a late appearance as a substitute in the final stages, his first since undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer.

“We can’t be doing any better,” Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told Real Madrid TV.

“The good thing is we’re getting better at playing in the way the coach wants, understanding the concepts and the results are coming with that.” Carvajal was happy with the team’s display, with Madrid showing more defensive solidity than at many times last season.

“I think the performance was complete and we suffered very little in a defensive sense,” continued Carvajal.