Mbappe shines as Real Madrid breeze past Levante to stay top of LALIGA

Kylian Mbappe was once again the star of the show as Real Madrid beat Levante 4-1 to maintain their 100% start to the season.

Vinicius gave Real Madrid the lead in the 28th minute at the Ciutat de Valencia, before Franco Mastantuono scored his first goal in Los Blancos' shirt ten minutes later to double the lead.

New signing Etta Eyong pulled one back in the second half as Julián Calero threatened a comeback, before a quick-fire Mbappe brace put the tie to bed.

Levante started brightly, getting early chances. Iván Romero and Adrián de la Fuente both had early chances which they squandered, profligacy which would soon be tied. 

Madrid slowly played their way into the game, with Levante needing Matt Ryan to keep Real Madrid attackers at bay. Not for long, however, as the breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Vinícius bent a sumptuous outside-of-the-boot finish inside the far post.

The floodgates creaked further just before half-time. Mastantuono, still only 18, but already oozing maturity, finished a sweeping counter with a sharp near-post strike, for his first LALIGA goal for Real Madrid,.

Levante pulled on after a fortunate deflection into the path of Etta Eyong who gratefully tucked it away. However, any thoughts of a comeback were short-lived. Just ten minutes later, Unai Elgezabal’s rash tackle handed Mbappé the chance to restore daylight, and the French superstar obliged with a nerveless Panenka from the spot. 

Moments later, he sealed the result in style, rounding Ryan and rolling home Madrid’s fourth of the evening, after a brilliantly chipped through pass from Arda Guler which cut through Levante’s backline. 

Real Madrid threatened for more, with Vinicius and Jude Bellingham both having chances to score late in the game. Levante were spared further embarrassment, however, and Real Madrid checked off another win.