Kylian Mbappe brace helps Real Madrid to victory at Real Oviedo

A brace by Kylian Mbappe helped Real Madrid claim a 3-0 win at Real Oviedo to maintain their perfect start to life under Xabi Alonso in LaLiga.

Mbappe grabbed the only goal in Alonso’s debut league fixture as Madrid boss against Osasuna last weekend and came up trumps once more against the division’s new boys.

France forward Mbappe opened the scoring after 37 minutes and made it a double seven minutes from time before substitute Vinicius Junior responded to being dropped to the bench with a third in stoppage time.

After a summer of speculation surrounding the future of Rodrygo, the Brazilian attacker was handed a start and immediately signalled his intention with an early effort saved.

It was followed by two chances for Mbappe, but he failed to hit the target with either during a frantic opening 10 minutes.

Madrid continued to push to break the deadlock, but were almost caught cold when Leander Dendoncker tested Thibaut Courtois midway through the first half.

Arda Guler and Rodrygo were thwarted by Aaron Escandell shortly afterwards before Madrid did finally open the scoring in the 37th minute.

Aurelien Tchouameni played a key role, snapping into a tackle on Dendoncker and Guler was able to thread into the path of Mbappe, who majestically rolled Dani Calvo and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

VAR was required to check if Tchouameni’s forceful tackle had been legal, but the goal stood, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Tchouameni almost rubbed salt into the wound only to fire wide moments later to ensure it remained 1-0 at half-time.

Oviedo boss Veljko Paunovic reacted with forward Haissem Hassan sent on for defender Oier Luengo.

The hosts returned with better intent after the break and Nacho Vidal had an effort off target before Alonso shuffled his pack after 63 minutes as Rodrygo made way for Vinicius and Brahim Diaz was also introduced.

Kwasi Sibo almost stunned the visitors with 21 minutes left but he was thwarted by Courtois and another attacker in Federico Vinas was brought on minutes later by Oviedo.

Not long after Vinicius and Tchouameni had squandered efforts for Madrid and Sibo went close again, Mbappe did make the points safe with his second in the 83rd minute.

Vinicius robbed Hassan of the ball and played it through to Mbappe to steer into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Mbappe was denied a hat-trick by Escandell two minutes later before he was substituted, with Trent Alexander-Arnold sent on by Alonso for the latter stages.

Santi Cazorla also came on for Oviedo, but Vinicius had the final say when he controlled Guler’s pass and curled home to respond to being put on the bench by Alonso.