Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as Real Madrid secured a commanding 5-0 win against Kairat Almaty, who were making their debut in the UEFA Champions League.
This victory allowed Madrid to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Atletico Madrid over the weekend.
After suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat to their city rivals, Real Madrid responded decisively, with Mbappe increasing his Champions League goal tally to five for the season.
“We must not forget what happened on Saturday. Although this is a different competition, we need to reflect on last weekend’s mistakes to prevent them from happening again,” Mbappe stated in an interview with Movistar Plus.
“My role is to support the team, and I focus on doing everything I can to help us win matches and trophies. As a player, when I have five chances, I aim to convert all of them.
“That’s why Real Madrid signed me, and I always strive for more. I scored three great goals, but I believe I could have added more.”
Despite being the underdogs, Kairat started the match positively, creating a few opportunities on the left flank.
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However, Real Madrid gradually took control, with the first goal coming in the 25th minute.
A defensive mistake from Kairat allowed Real midfielder Franco Mastantuono to gain possession in the box, where he was fouled by 18-year-old goalkeeper Sherhan Kalmurza.
Mbappe converted the resulting penalty with precision.
Although Real Madrid had several chances, they went into halftime with just a 1-0 lead.
Mbappe doubled the score in the 52nd minute with a brilliant play, receiving a long pass from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, outpacing the Kairat defense, and chipping the ball over the advancing Kalmurza.
Kairat thought they had a chance to get back into the game in the 69th minute when Dani Ceballos was initially penalized for a foul in the box.
However, the referee reversed the decision after a VAR review.
Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that found the top corner, following an impressive run by substitute Rodrygo.
Rodrygo continued to impress, assisting Eduardo Camavinga for a header in the 83rd minute, and Brahim Diaz capped off the scoring with a close-range goal in stoppage time, bringing the final score to 5-0.
Real Madrid’s dominant performance puts them in a strong position in the standings, while Kairat, still in search of their first Champions League point, were left to lament their defensive errors on a challenging night.
