Mbappe off the mark for Madrid in win over Betis
Kylian Mbappe scored his first and second goals for new club Real Madrid as it won 2-0 over Real Betis in LaLiga to ease some of the pressure on the champion.
The critics had been circling around Carlo Ancelotti's side in recent weeks with star signing Mbappe yet to score since moving from Paris Saint-Germain after the end of last season, but the Frenchman shut that all down with a second-half brace.
The first came in the 67th minute when he was put through in the box courtesy of a superb backheel flick from Federico Valverde and Mbappe's second came from the spot after Vinicius Jnr had been brought down in a one-on-one with Betis keeper Rui Silva, whom Mbappe sent the wrong way from 12 yards.
The win moves Madrid into second place on the table, four points behind leader Barcelona, but it is one of three teams on eight points, with Atletico Madrid in third and Villarreal fourth on goal difference alone.
Madrid controlled possession but struggled against a well-organised Betis defence until it finally managed to break the deadlock through Mbappe.
The Frenchman had his chances in the first half, but either missed the target or saw his efforts blocked as frustration grew again inside Santiago Bernabeu.
The expectations will remain high on Mbappe despite his headline performance here.
Heading into this fixture, Mbappe had attempted the most shots this season (17) across Europe's top five leagues, and had the worst difference between expected goals (1.8 xG) and goals scored (none).
But the FIFA World Cup-winning forward may have quietened most of his doubters now, firing nine shots across a one-man attempt to break down Betis in a man-of-the-match performance.
Away from Mbappe, Madrid has also not conceded in its past five LaLiga games at home for the first time in the competition since October 1996.
Mbappe, coupled with Ancelotti's well-drilled defence, could be the difference for back-to-back LaLiga crowns by the end of the campaign.
