A year on, divine Mbappé returns to the Cathedral where everything changed | Sid Lowe

Kylian Mbappé returned to the San Mamés stadium, where he had his epiphany in 2024, a year after hitting rock bottom. The Frenchman's resurrection was complete as he scored two goals against Athletic Bilbao and set up another, lighting up the darkness with his incredible performance.

The match came just days after Barcelona had won five games in a row, overhauling Madrid's lead at the top of the table. Real Madrid had been struggling all season, and their 3-0 victory seemed like a long shot until Mbappé took to the field. He was instrumental in turning the game around, controlling Trent Alexander-Arnold's diagonal pass before unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

The win marked a significant shift for Madrid, as they looked to right the ship after their disappointing run of form. Manager Xabi Alonso has been working to adapt his tactics to fit his players, and tonight was a step in that direction. With Mbappé leading the charge, Real Madrid were able to break down Athletic Bilbao's high defensive line and create scoring opportunities.

The victory also highlighted Mbappé's incredible impact on the team. The 21-year-old forward has been instrumental in turning around Real Madrid's season, with 25 goals and four assists already this campaign. He has more than twice his teammates' combined total over the past year, and almost 60% of Madrid's league goals.

As Alonso pointed out, "in the future we're going to need a lot of what we did today." Tonight was a significant step forward for both Mbappé and Real Madrid, as they look to build on their success and climb back to the top of the table. The question now is whether this performance will be enough to carry them through the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have won five games in a row, with Pedri and Raphinha returning from injury to help the team regain momentum. With Madrid struggling and Barcelona on the upswing, the rivalry between the two teams has never been more intense.

The match may have ended with a 3-0 victory for Real Madrid, but the real story is Mbappé's incredible individual performance. The Frenchman has taken his game to new heights, and it remains to be seen how far he can carry his team forward.

In other news, Thibaut Courtois admitted that Madrid needed to "stop talking and start acting" after their disappointing run of form. He praised the team's spirit, saying they were playing with a sense of solidarity, but acknowledged that they had been struggling to adapt their tactics to fit the players.

With Madrid's struggles mounting, it remains to be seen how long Alonso will remain at the helm. The manager has faced criticism for his tactics and his inability to inspire his players, but tonight was a much-needed win to lift his team's spirits.

For now, however, Mbappé is the story of the night, and his incredible performance is sure to be remembered for a long time.
 
.. I'm literally shaking with excitement right now 😂🔥 just thinking about Kylian Mbappé's performance last night was like watching a masterclass in football 🤯! The way he took over the game, controlling it with his incredible speed and skill, it's just awe-inspiring 💪. And to see him score those two goals, setting up another one too... I mean, what more can you ask for from a player? 😍

But what really gets me is how far Mbappé has come in the last year 🤔. From hitting rock bottom to becoming the hero of Real Madrid's season, it's like he was reborn on that pitch 🔥. And I think we're only just seeing the beginning of his greatness 💥. Like, 25 goals and four assists already? That's almost impossible for anyone else to match! 🤯

And then you look at Barcelona, with Pedri and Raphinha back from injury... they're on fire 🔥! It's like the competition has never been more intense between these two teams 💣. And Real Madrid needs this win more than ever - their season is literally hanging by a thread 😩.

But honestly, I don't care about that right now 🙅‍♂️. I'm just basking in the glory of Kylian Mbappé's incredible performance 😊! He's not just a great player, he's an inspiration 🔥. Can we talk about how lucky Real Madrid is to have him? 😩
 
I'm loving Kylian Mbappé's comeback story 🤩! He's like the superhero who saved Real Madrid from the brink of disaster. And let's be real, 25 goals and four assists in one season? That's like me scoring a hat-trick on FIFA online... not gonna happen 😂. But seriously, this kid is on fire 🔥. I'm excited to see how far he can carry his team forward. Maybe they'll even make it to the Champions League final 🏆? Alonso should be getting a raise for playing Mbappé's genius like a violin string 🎸. And Thibaut Courtois, nice one with the "stop talking and start acting" advice 😂. I'm guessing Alonso will need some more of that wisdom to keep his job 🤷‍♂️.
 
I'm so stoked about Kylian Mbappé! He's like a dark horse or something - one minute you're thinking he's struggling, next minute you're seeing him light up the stadium like that 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao 🤩🔥 He's literally carrying Real Madrid on his back right now and it's crazy to watch. I mean, 25 goals and four assists already this season? Unreal! Alonso needs to keep giving him the freedom to play and he'll do wonders for that team 💪
 
OMG 🤩 I'm literally in awe of Kylian Mbappé right now! His comeback season has been insane and he just kept on killing it! 😂 His work rate, skill level, and goal-scoring ability are unmatched, I mean 25 goals and 4 assists already this campaign? 🤯 Unbelievable!

Real Madrid was struggling big time but with Mbappé leading the charge, they were able to turn things around. It's not just about him scoring though, his vision and passing range are also top-notch. He's like a maestro out there on the pitch! 🎸

The fact that he had an epiphany at the San Mamés stadium last year is crazy, I mean who gets a second chance like that? But Mbappé took it to heart and now he's carrying Real Madrid back to the top of the table. Fingers crossed they can keep this momentum going! 🤞
 
🤔 I think Real Madrid needed that win bad 🙌 Mbappé's performance was insane! Like he single-handedly turned the game around 💥 It's crazy to think how much better they are with him on the field compared to when he wasn't playing. 25 goals and 4 assists already this season? That's just ridiculous! 🤯 And now Barcelona is hot on their heels, winning 5 games in a row... it's going to be so interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out ⚽
 
I gotta say, Kylian Mbappé is on fire right now! 🚀 He's like a new man since that tough year in 2024. I mean, 25 goals and four assists already this season? That's crazy! It's like he's taken his game to another level. The way he controlled the match against Athletic Bilbao was incredible... I'm so glad he was able to lead Real Madrid to that big win.

I think what's really impressive is how much of an impact Mbappé has on the team. He's carrying them now, and it's hard to imagine who else can do that. Xabi Alonso must be thrilled with him right now! 😊 As for Thibaut Courtois saying they needed to "stop talking and start acting"... I think that's a great point. Sometimes you just need to get things done on the pitch.

It's also worth noting how intense this rivalry is between Real Madrid and Barcelona right now. Five wins in a row for Barça? That's no joke! But at the same time, Madrid's win tonight shows they're back on track... Fingers crossed it keeps up, though! 💪
 
the magic of mbappé 🧚‍♂️ it's insane how far this guy has come in just one year, he literally went from rock bottom to leading his team to a 3-0 win at the san mamés stadium. i mean, we all know real madrid had been struggling but mbappé took that game and turned it on its head with two goals and an assist. he's more than just a superstar player, he's a game-changer. let's see if real madrid can build on this momentum and stay top of the table for a while 🤞
 
🔥 so this match is like a big referendum on Xabi Alonso's tactics... people are gonna be talking about if he can build on this momentum and take madrid back to the top 🤔. Meanwhile, Barca's win streak has them looking strong, but for how long? they gotta keep pushing themselves or else they'll get complacent 💪. and what's up with Courtois' comments? is he calling out Alonso for not making enough changes to the team? this might be more than just a coach firing 🔥
 
🙌 I think it's safe to say that Kylian Mbappé has turned Real Madrid's season around single-handedly 🔥. 25 goals and four assists already this campaign is insane! He's basically carrying the team on his back, but in a good way 💪. It's not just about individual brilliance, though – he's also helping to break down Athletic Bilbao's high defensive line with his pace and skill 🏃‍♂️.

It's interesting to see how this performance will affect the rest of the season. Will Real Madrid be able to build on this momentum? And what about Barcelona, who are now on a five-game winning streak? The rivalry between these two teams is heating up 🔥, and I'm excited to see how it all plays out 👀.

As for Xabi Alonso, he's definitely on the right track with his tactics adjustments 🤔. It's clear that he's trying to find what works best for his players, and tonight was a big step in that direction 💡. Let's hope this win will carry them through the rest of the season 👏!
 
🌟 just saw Kylian Mbappé's insane 2 goal show against Athletic Bilbao and I'm HOOKED 🤯! He's literally carried Real Madrid on his back this season with 25 goals and 4 assists already 🚀. The dude is a GAME CHANGER 💥. Xabi Alonso finally seems to be finding the right formula for his team, but it all depends on if they can keep up this momentum 🤔. I mean, Barcelona is on fire too with Pedri and Raphinha back in the mix 🔥. This La Liga rivalry between Madrid and Barca is getting intense 🔴🏆! Mbappé's individual brilliance aside, he needs to help his team lift that elusive Champions League trophy 🏆💪 #MbappeForTheWin #RealMadrid #LaLiga #ChampionsLeague
 
I dont really get football yet lol 😂 so like what happened in this game? Kylian Mbappe is some super star right? he played really well and scored 2 goals and helped set up another one 🤩 I think his team won, but Barcelona was doing good too? Pedri and Raphinha came back from injury and helped them win some games... umm how many games did they win again? 🤔
 
I'm loving this resurgence from Mbappé 🤩! He's like a superhero on the pitch - so clutch in big moments, you know? And that win for Madrid was super needed, they'd been struggling all season and it's awesome they were able to get back on track with their star player leading the charge. Alonso is looking more confident now too, his tactics are finally starting to pay off. It's gonna be a crazy second half of the season with these two teams going head-to-head 🚀👊
 
I'm not convinced by all the hype around Mbappé's return 🤔. He did have a great game, no doubt about that. But was it really just him who turned the game around? I need to see more stats and evidence on how he contributed to the win. Was it just one player or was it a team effort?

And what about Madrid's defense? They conceded 3 goals in that match 🚨. How can they expect to climb back up the table with such weaknesses? The manager said they needed to stop talking and start acting, but when did that ever happen? When are they going to make some real changes?

I'm also curious, how many of those 25 goals and four assists was Mbappé responsible for alone 🤷‍♂️. Is it really fair to say he's carrying the team on his back? What about the other players like Vinicius or Rodrygo? Don't they deserve some credit?

Lastly, is this just a fluke win or are Madrid on the verge of something special? We've seen this before, teams going on hot streaks and then crashing back down to earth 📊. Can we really believe that Mbappé's individual brilliance will carry them all the way to the top?
 
man this mbappe guy is on fire 🔥💨 i mean he literally carried real madrid to that 3-0 win against athletic bilbao and now barca's on fire too 🚀😅 the rivalry between these two teams is getting so intense, it's like the whole world is watching 🌎 what's next for these teams? will mbappe keep leading the charge or will barcelona keep pushing for the top spot 🤔
 
🤣 can you believe the drama that comes with football? like, one minute Madrid's losing all hope, next minute Kylian Mbappe shows up and saves their bacon lolol. 21 goals and counting and this kid's on fire 🔥 i mean we get it, Barcelona's on a roll but let's not forget Real are still trying to figure out what's going on over there 🤦‍♂️ xabi alonso needs to get his tactics together ASAP
 
Mbappé's back on form 💥 is definitely a good thing for Real Madrid, but I'm not convinced that they're out of the woods yet 🌳. It's one win against Athletic Bilbao, and while it was an impressive performance from him, we need to see this consistency over a longer period of time ⏰. The team still needs to work on their overall strategy and tactics to stay ahead of Barcelona 👀. And let's be real, that five-game winning streak from Barca is not going away 🔄. Maybe Mbappé can help bring some magic back to Madrid, but we'll have to wait and see if they can sustain this momentum 🔮
 
I'm telling ya, Kylian Mbappé is like a superhero on the pitch 🦸‍♂️! He took over the game against Athletic Bilbao and saved Real Madrid from certain defeat. I mean, 25 goals and four assists already this season? That's crazy talk! 😲 The kid's got skills for days, and it's no wonder he was the key to turning their season around.

I'm not surprised though, Mbappé's always been a game-changer 🤯. He's like a lightning rod for goals, drawing defenders in with his speed and agility before unleashing a powerful shot. And let's be real, that diagonal pass against Athletic Bilbao was pure magic ✨! I've seen some amazing moments in football, but that one takes the cake.

But what's really impressive is how he's carried his team forward 🌟. Real Madrid needed a wake-up call, and Mbappé delivered. Now, they're looking to build on this momentum and climb back to the top of the table. We'll see if it's enough to carry them through the rest of the season, but for now, I'm loving the vibe 💪.

And can we talk about Thibaut Courtois for a sec? 😂 The guy's just saying what everyone else is thinking – they need to stop talking and start acting. I mean, who wouldn't want to see more of Mbappé on the pitch?! 💥
 
🔥 just think about it, mbappe is literally carrying real madrid on his back right now 🤯 he's got 25 goals and 4 assists in like 2 seasons max... that's insane! what if he just has the magic all season? will they even make it to the top of the league with him this alone? 😲

anyway, it's clear alonso is doing something right because mbappe is thriving under his management 🙌 and barcelona is trying to capitalize on madrid's struggles. but honestly, i'm not sure who's gonna come out on top in this rivalry... could be either team taking the league title 🏆
 
lol what happened to Real Madrid? They were rock bottom last year and now they're back on top! 🤯 It's like they hired Mbappé as their own personal superhero and he saved them from themselves 😂. But seriously, this kid is on fire 🔥, 25 goals and 4 assists already? That's insane! And Alonso finally figured out what to do with him 👏. Maybe now Madrid can stop talking about how good they are and start acting like it 💪. Can't wait to see how far Mbappé takes them this season 🤔
 
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