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Olivier Giroud Makes Los Angeles FC Debut as a Substitute During Leagues Cup Match 

Aug 13, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud (9) is defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) in the second half at BMO Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
Aug 13, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud (9) is defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) in the second half at BMO Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
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Olivier Giroud Makes Los Angeles FC Debut as a Substitute During Leagues Cup Match 

Aug 13, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud (9) is defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) in the second half at BMO Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
Aug 13, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Olivier Giroud (9) is defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) in the second half at BMO Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

Olivier Giroud made his Los Angeles FC debut Tuesday night during a Leagues Cup Round of 16 match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The 37-year-old French striker came on as a substitute in the 71st minute of LAFC's 4-1 victory. He had a chance inside the box in the 90th minute, but his shot was blocked by San Jose's Daniel Munie near the goal.

Giroud signed with LAFC in May and had his first practice with the club on Aug. 3. He comes to the United States after spending 18 years in the top professional leagues in France, England and Italy. That included the past four seasons with AC Milan. He has 285 goals in 716 club matches.

“I wish I could play even more tonight, but it was a good first step. I'm looking forward to the next game,” Giroud said. “I need my fitness back. When you restart a season, you need to work hard at training, but I understand what the manager is expecting from me and I will try to get ready as soon as possible.”

Prior to Tuesday night, Giroud's most recent action was with France last month in the European Championship. He came off the bench in four games, including a 2-1 loss to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals on July 9.

Giroud is the second French player on LAFC, joining goaltender and former national teammate Hugo Lloris.

LAFC is at Seattle on Saturday in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal match.

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Mbappé Scores First Hat Trick for Real Madrid as Atletico Draws

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the 3-0 lead during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid at Jose Zorrilla Stadium, in Valladolid, Spain, 25 January 2025. EPA/R. Garcia
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the 3-0 lead during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid at Jose Zorrilla Stadium, in Valladolid, Spain, 25 January 2025. EPA/R. Garcia
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Mbappé Scores First Hat Trick for Real Madrid as Atletico Draws

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the 3-0 lead during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid at Jose Zorrilla Stadium, in Valladolid, Spain, 25 January 2025. EPA/R. Garcia
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the 3-0 lead during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid at Jose Zorrilla Stadium, in Valladolid, Spain, 25 January 2025. EPA/R. Garcia

Kylian Mbappé tucked the ball under his shirt as he raised both hands to return the applause to the Real Madrid fans who savored his first hat trick for his new club.
The France star had just led a 3-0 victory at struggling Valladolid that extended Madrid’s lead of La Liga on Saturday, keeping it in position to retain the title just after the midway point of the campaign.
Gone was the inconsistent play and missed penalties from Mbappé during his first months with Madrid following his move from Paris Saint-Germain. The France captain has started pouring in goals with back-to-back multi-goal games and has Madrid in pole position with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona stalled.
“I'm very happy for the hat trick but even happier for the win,” Mbappé said in fluent Spanish. “It was very important to win after Atletico’s result because that gave us a bit more pressure to take advantage of it.”
Madrid’s fourth straight triumph in the league combined with Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Villarreal let Carlo Ancelotti’s side open a four-point gap over its city rival. Barcelona was in third place at 10 points back before hosting Valencia on Sunday.
Madrid trailed then-leader Barcelona at one point, but since getting blown away in a 4-0 clasico debacle, it has found its stride and is in championship mode.
“My adaptation to the team is over. I feel comfortable on the field and you can see that from the way I am playing with my teammates,” Mbappé said. “This gives us confidence, but you know that until the 38th round this is not over. We have to keep winning because there is a long way to go.”
The game between the front-runner and the bottom side fit its billing as a mismatch.
Valladolid could draw only one save from Thibaut Courtois in the opening moments. It was all Madrid the rest of the way even though Vinícius Júnior didn’t play as he completed a two-game suspension.
Mbappé swept in Madrid’s first goal on the half-hour mark after a flowing team attack of quick passes to weave the ball through a packed Valladolid area that culminated in Jude Bellingham’s assist for the France star.
He made it a double in the 57th by finishing off a three-against-two counterattack after Federico Valverde intercepted a Valladolid pass. Mbappé took a pass by Rodrygo and rifled in a low strike from the left side of the box.
Valladolid finished with 10 men after Mario Martín got a second booking in the 90th for a foul on Bellingham, sending Mbappé to the spot for his third.
That made it four games in a row with a goal across all competitions for Mbappé. In La Liga, Mbappé has 15, second only to Robert Lewandowski’s 16 for Barcelona. He also scored twice last weekend against Las Palmas in a 4-1 win.
“Mbappé is giving us a lot. He has found his rhythm over the last couple of months and that is obviously a boost for us,” Ancelotti said.
Valladolid was five points from safety.
Atletico's stalemate with Villarreal came a week after a shock 1-0 loss at Leganes.
Gerard Moreno, Villarreal’s top scorer in club history, made it 120 goals for the Yellow Submarine in the 25th minute after the striker converted a penalty he earned when fouled by Reinildo.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Rodrigo de Paul for the first half. Then he made three changes at halftime, sending on De Paul and winger Samu Lino to kickstart his sluggish attack.
The moves paid off as the hosts pressed Villarreal into its box, and Lino rammed in a 58th-minute equalizer.
Simeone sent Griezmann on immediately after and the action stayed in Villarreal’s area except for two chances for Villarreal’s Ayoze Pérez, who replaced Gerard. But Griezmann’s header that bounced just wide in the 86th was the closest Atletico came to snatching a winner.
“We played a good game at a very tough ground against a team with a deep bench that is fighting for the league. We are happy,” Gerard said for a Villarreal that stayed in fifth place.
Cedric Bakambu headed in a stoppage-time winner to grab Real Betis a 1-0 victory at 10-man Mallorca.
Mallorca had opportunities until Omar Mascarell received a direct red card for a studs-first tackle of Betis’ Jesús Rodríguez in the 73rd.
The win came while Betis secured a loan deal for forward Anthony from Manchester United.
García sustains Espanyol Goalkeeper Joan García made three saves to deny Sevilla standout Dodi Lukebakio and help Espanyol grind out a 1-1 draw at Sevilla.