Mbappe Brace Fires Real Madrid Past Sevilla Ahead of El Clasico

Real Madrid produced one of their most fluid attacking displays of the season to beat Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, trimming the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points exactly a week before the two meet in El Clasico.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Arda Guler again drove the hosts' forward play. Even without the suspended Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid showed the attacking cohesion that has been missing from their recent form.

After a cagey opening spell, it was the Turkey international who ignited the match. Sevilla appealed for a red card after a clash between Guler and Peque Fernandez, but moments later Guler collected Yan Diomande's pass and curled a precise finish into the top corner to open the scoring.

On 37 minutes Mbappe produced a moment of equal class: a turn to leave his marker behind, an acceleration into the box and a calm finish past goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Just before the break, Fede Valverde, deployed at right-back by coach Jose Mourinho, made a vital block on Felix Correia at a point when Sevilla were pushing to get back into the game.

Sevilla were forced to push higher after the interval, opening the space Diomande exploited. The midfielder escaped his marker and released Mbappe, and Andres Castrin's foul on the French forward inside the area gave Mbappe the chance to convert the penalty himself and all but settle the contest.

On 80 minutes substitute Manu Bueno pulled one back for Sevilla with a composed finish after a loose giveaway by Mbappe deep in his own half.

But two minutes later Diomande restored the three-goal cushion with a powerful strike, capping an impressive individual performance.

On 85 minutes Eder Militao received a warm ovation from the crowd as he came on for the first time since hamstring surgery in April.

The win was one of Real Madrid's most complete performances under Mourinho in his second spell, and offers timely momentum before Sunday's pivotal meeting with Barcelona.

Real Madrid have now won three straight matches in all competitions since the international break, climbing to third place on 21 points, one behind Atletico Madrid, while Sevilla sit sixth on 14.

A day earlier, Barcelona thrashed Real Betis 5-2 for their ninth successive win, taking their La Liga goal tally this season to 39. Lamine Yamal opened with a fine strike before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and substitute Dani Olmo also scored. Valentin Gomez and Ez Abde replied for Betis, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Facundo Bernal's red card for a headbutt on Lamine.

Barcelona now have 27 points, five clear of Atletico, who beat Espanyol 1-0. Betis are third on 19 points, with Real Madrid fourth on 18 before facing Sevilla.

Elsewhere, Osasuna beat Racing Santander 2-0 in Jagoba Arrasate's return to the dugout. Two stunning saves from Ionut Radu left Alaves empty-handed in a 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo, while Real Sociedad won 5-2 away at Malaga.