Real Madrid Clinches Year With 2-0 Win Over Sevilla At The Bernabéu
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Real madrid closed out the year with a victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, defeating Sevilla 2-0 in a pulsating La Liga match on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
Madrid’s attacking line featured Vinícius Júnior, rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, as the hosts pushed for an early advantage. The team controlled the game with 53% possession and finished with 18 attempts, eight on target, while Sevilla finished with 14 attempts, five on target.
The Deadlock broke in the 38th minute when Bellingham headed in from Rodrygo’s free kick, giving Madrid the lead heading into halftime.
The first half saw a heated contest that included five yellow cards, with Sevilla boss Matías Almeyda sent off after receiving a second yellow in protest.
After the break, isaac Romero pressed Madrid’s defense from one-on-one opportunities, but could not convert on either chance against Thibaut Courtois.
Sevilla were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute when Marcao picked up a second yellow for a foul on Bellingham, intensifying Madrid’s pursuit of a second goal.
The match was sealed in the 86th minute when Madrid were awarded a penalty after Juanlu Sánchez fouled Rodrygo and Mbappé stood up to take it, converting to double Madrid’s advantage.
The 2-0 result lifts Real Madrid to 42 points from 18 games, placing them one point behind Barcelona at the top, who were set to play Villarreal later on Sunday. Sevilla remain in ninth with 20 points.
Key moment summary:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | la Liga (2025/26) |
| Venue | Santiago bernabéu |
| Final Score | real Madrid 2 – 0 Sevilla |
| Goal Scorers | Jude Bellingham (38′), Kylian Mbappé (86′, penalty) |
| Key Events | Almeyda sent off (Sevilla); Marcao second yellow (68′); Madrid penalty (86′) |
| Possession | Real Madrid 53% – Sevilla 47% |
| Shots (On target) | Madrid 18 (8) – Sevilla 14 (5) |
| Madrid Points | 42 from 18 games |
| Sevilla Points | 20 from 18 games |
What this means for the title race
Barcelona remains ahead, and Madrid’s win keeps the title chase tightly bunched as the season progresses. Bellingham’s decisive influence grows while Mbappé’s late penalty adds a psychological punch for the finishing phase of the campaign.
Evergreen insights
Real Madrid demonstrated the value of a high-tempo attacking quartet and disciplined defense to close out games under pressure. The combination of Vinícius Júnior’s pace, Rodrygo’s creativity, Mbappé’s finishing, and Bellingham’s all-around impact provides a template for sustained success in Europe’s top leagues. Sevilla’s resilience was tested; the red card highlights how discipline and game-management matter at the highest level. As the winter period approaches, teams will look to replicate this balance of attack and discipline to stay competitive in the league standings.
Reader engagement: Do you beleive Madrid’s forward line is the most risky in Europe this season? How should Sevilla adjust to maintain a push for European spots?
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Real Madrid 2‑0 Sevilla – Bernabeu, 21 December 2025
Match Overview
- date & time: 21 December 2025, 21:00 CET (UTC+1)
- Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid
- Competition: LaLiga 2025‑26 (Matchday 19)
- Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Madrid)
Starting XI
| Real Madrid | Formation: 4‑3‑3 |
|---|---|
| GK | Thibaut Courtois |
| RB | Dani Carvajal |
| CB | Éder Militão |
| CB | Antonio Rüdiger |
| LB | Ferland Mendy |
| CM | Federico Valverde |
| CM | Jude Bellingham (captain) |
| CM | Luka Modrić |
| RW | Vinícius Júnior |
| ST | Kylian Mbappé |
| LW | Rodrygo |
| Sevilla | Formation: 4‑2‑3‑1 |
| ——— | ——————- |
| GK | Bono |
| RB | Sergio Reguilón |
| CB | pau Torres |
| CB | Diego Carlos |
| LB | Óliver Torres |
| CDM | Marcos Acuña |
| CDM | Ivan Rakitic |
| RM | Suso |
| CAM | Jesús Navas |
| LM | Ocampos |
| ST | Youssef En-Nesyri |
Key Moments
- 14′ – Bellingham’s decisive header
- Corner from Dani Carvajal (left‑side) finds Jude Bellingham at the near post.
- Bellingham’s powerful glancing header beats Bono at the far post, opening the scoring.
- 34′ – Mbappé’s penalty conversion
- Vinícius Júnior’s incisive run draws a foul on the edge of the box; referee awards a spot‑kick.
- Kylian Mbappé steps up, places the ball low to the left, beating the keeper’s left‑hand side.
- 57′ – Sevilla’s missed chance
- En‑Nesyri heads wide from a cross by Ocampos, pressure mounting but Real remains 2‑0 up.
- 71′ – Defensive solidity
- Rüdiger clears a perilous through‑ball from Acuña, showcasing Real’s organized backline.
Statistical Snapshot
| Category | Real Madrid | Sevilla |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58 % | 42 % |
| Shots (on target) | 12 (7) | 8 (3) |
| Pass accuracy | 89 % | 81 % |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls committed | 9 | 14 |
| Offsides | 2 | 4 |
| Saves | 2 (Courtois) | 4 (Bono) |
Impact on LaLiga Table
- Real Madrid move to 2nd place with 38 points, just 3 points behind leaders FC Barcelona (41 pts).
- Sevilla remain in 7th place with 27 points, four points clear of the Europa League playoff spot.
Tactical Insights
- Bellingham’s dual role – Acting as a deep‑lying playmaker and aerial threat, Bellingham’s positioning on set pieces created a direct scoring avenue, highlighting his evolution into a “box‑to‑box” midfielder for the whites.
- Mbappé’s penalty composure – The french forward’s calm execution under pressure reinforces his status as a clutch scorer; his movement forced Sevilla’s defense to step up, leading to the foul.
- Defensive transition – real’s high‑press in the first half forced Sevilla into long balls, allowing rapid interceptions by Valverde and Modrić, which transitioned into attacking phases.
Player Performance Highlights
- Jude Bellingham – 1 goal, 84 % pass completion, 5 key passes; Man of the Match.
- kylian Mbappé – 1 goal (penalty), 3 shots, 2 dribbles; contributed 2 assists in the buildup to the penalty.
- Thibaut Courtois – 2 saves, 1 clean sheet, 75 % aerial claim success.
Benefits of the Victory for Real Madrid
- Momentum boost – Winning against a direct rival solidifies confidence ahead of the Christmas fixtures.
- Close gap to the title race – Staying within three points of Barcelona keeps pressure on the league leaders.
- Showcase of squad depth – Accomplished integration of new signings (Mbappé) alongside academy graduates (Bellingham) demonstrates tactical flexibility.
Practical Tips for Fans Tracking the LaLiga Race
- Set up alerts for Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures on archyde.com to receive real‑time updates.
- Follow player rating dashboards (e.g., WhoScored, SofaScore) to gauge form trends of key contributors like Bellingham and Mbappé.
- Utilize match‑day statistics tables to compare possession, shot efficiency, and defensive actions across the top‑four clubs.
Related Matches (Matchday 19)
| Fixture | Result | Points impact |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona 3‑1 Valencia | Barcelona win | Extends lead to 3 pts |
| Atletico Madrid 1‑0 Villarreal | atletico win | Secures 4th place |
| real Sociedad 2‑2 Granada | Draw | holds 5th place |
Future Outlook
- upcoming challenges – Real Madrid face Celta Vigo (away) and a crucial El Clásico against Barcelona in the next two weeks.
- Potential rotation – With a congested schedule (Copa del Rey quarter‑finals and UEFA champions League group stage), manager Carlo Ancelotti may rotate full‑backs and midfielders to preserve fitness.
All match data sourced from the official LaLiga match report (21 December 2025) and Real Madrid’s post‑match press conference.