Mbappe Ends Scoring Drought in Spanish League and Scores 2 in Real Madrid’s Win Over Betis 

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
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Mbappe Ends Scoring Drought in Spanish League and Scores 2 in Real Madrid’s Win Over Betis 

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Betis - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 1, 2024 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

With two goals in less than 10 minutes, Kylian Mbappe ended his scoring drought in the Spanish league, leading Real Madrid to a 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.

Madrid's biggest signing in years, Mbappe had scored once in the team's win over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup final last month, but he had yet to find the net in his previous three Spanish league matches.

“I was looking forward to scoring in this legendary stadium, the best in the world,” Mbappe said. “But the most important thing was the victory.”

He opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu with a low left-footed shot from inside the area after a neat backheel pass by Federico Valverde in the 67th minute. Mbappe then added to the lead by converting a 75th-minute penalty kick after a foul on Vinicius Junior.

Madrid had drawn two of its first three games, with its lone victory coming against Valladolid two rounds ago, also at the Bernabeu. This win moved the defending champion four points behind leader Barcelona, the only team to win all four matches to start the season.

“After the game against Las Palmas we knew that we had to win and we did it,” Mbappe said. “It was a tough match, but we are Real Madrid and in the end we won it.”

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said there was never any pressure on Mbappe to end his drought in the league.

“For him it was important to score, but we evaluate the work of the team as a whole, which was better than in the previous match. It was a step forward.”

The result kept Betis winless after three matches. Manuel Pellegrini's team had drawn its first two games.

Vitor Roque, a young Brazilian forward, was a second-half substitute for the Seville club where he is playing on loan from Madrid rival Barcelona.

Madrid has not conceded in its last five league games at Bernabeu, going back to last season, a first for the club in the competition since 1996.

Madrid is unbeaten in 26 home games in the league, with 22 wins and four draws, the best run under Ancelotti.

The five points from three matches until now had meant Madrid's worst start in the league since 2019-20, when it won the competition.

Elsewhere, Sevilla lost 2-0 at home to Girona to remain winless after four matches.

Ivan Martin and Abel Ruiz scored a goal in each half for Girona, which has now won two in a row. It will play the Catalan derby against Barcelona in the next round.

Sevilla had drawn two of its first three matches, both on the road, with a loss to Villarreal at home.

Getafe, another team without a victory, drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad at home, while Las Palmas — also winless — lost 2-0 at Alaves. Osasuna won 3-2 against Celta Vigo, which had opened with two straight wins but now has lost two in a row.



Ousmane Dembélé Back in PSG Squad to Take on Nice in French League

PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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Ousmane Dembélé Back in PSG Squad to Take on Nice in French League

PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ousmane Dembélé is back with Paris Saint-Germain after he was left out from the squad that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.

PSG coach Luis Enrique was criticized after the loss for not selecting Dembélé, one of the most creative players in the team following the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.

Dembélé was selected in a group of 21 players named by Enrique traveling to Nice on Sunday night. PSG can move back to the top of the French league standings with a win, The AP reported.

Enrique had blamed Dembélé for a perceived lack of commitment from the France forward but did not give more details. He denied he had a personal argument with him after L’Equipe reported the duo verbally clashed following PSG’s 3-1 win against Rennes in the French league last weekend. Dembélé had an assist in the match.

“There is just a problem of commitment toward the team, it’s not a problem between the player and the coach,” Enrique said through a translator.

PSG traveled to London with 22 players but without Dembélé, who has been a key element in PSG’s unbeaten start to the season. In six Ligue 1 matches, Dembélé has scored four goals and added three assists.

“I took the best possible decision,” Enrique said, adding he was supported in his choice by the club director.

Enrique’s other options up front to cover Dembélé include Randal Kolo Muani and Désiré Doué.

“Other players will be able to take over,” PSG right back Achraf Hakimi said. “The most important thing in the team is the group, and our group is united.”