Kylian Mbappe was the star of the night as Real Madrid cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Champions League debutants Kairat Almaty at the Central Stadium in Kazakhstan.
The French forward bagged a stunning hat-trick, helping Los Blancos bounce back in style from their humiliating 5-2 LaLiga defeat to Atletico Madrid just days earlier.
Mbappe Leads the Response
Speaking after the match, Mbappe emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks:
“We must never forget what happened on Saturday. It’s another competition, but we have to keep thinking about it so we can learn and ensure it doesnât happen again.”
He added that scoring goals is his responsibility:
“A player like me, when he has five chances, wants and has to score all five. Thatâs why Real Madrid bought me. Three were very good, but I could have scored more.”
How the Match Unfolded
25th Minute: Franco Mastantuono won a penalty after being fouled by teenage goalkeeper Sherhan Kalmurza. Mbappe made no mistake from the spot.
52nd Minute: A long ball from Thibaut Courtois released Mbappe, who showed blistering pace before chipping the keeper for his second.
73rd Minute: After a dazzling run from Rodrygo, Mbappe unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to complete his hat-trick.
Real Madrid didnât stop there. Rodrygo provided another assist in the 83rd minute, setting up Eduardo Camavinga for a header. Brahim Diaz then wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time with a close-range finish.
Kairat, despite showing early promise, were ultimately undone by defensive lapses and the sheer quality of Madridâs attack.
What It Means
Real Madrid: The win strengthens their position in the Champions League group stage, restoring confidence after the derby defeat.
Kairat Almaty: Still searching for their first point in the competition, theyâll need to regroup quickly.
