Mbappé brace lifts Real Madrid over Athletic Bilbao

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

4, December 2025 - Real Madrid returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion on Wednesday night, defeating Athletic Bilbao 3–0 at San Mamés, with Kylian Mbappé stealing the show through a brilliant two-goal performance. After a frustrating stretch of games without a victory, this result brought relief, rhythm, and renewed confidence back to Xabi Alonso’s side.

Madrid looked sharp from the opening whistle, pressing with intent and moving the ball with a speed that had been missing in recent weeks. Their early energy paid off when Mbappé put them ahead, finishing off a flowing attack with characteristic composure. The French star’s perfectly timed run and calm strike past the goalkeeper set the tone for a dominant night.

Athletic Bilbao, usually very strong at home, tried to respond with their trademark intensity, but Madrid’s midfield controlled the tempo. Jude Bellingham dictated play between the lines, while Eduardo Camavinga provided balance and ball progression.

It was Camavinga who doubled Madrid’s lead, capping a smart move with a low finish with a header, after linking up neatly with Mbappé. The goal underlined the youngster’s growing influence and reminded fans of his value beyond defensive duties.

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Mbappé sealed the victory in the second half with a beautiful strike from the left side, placing a ferocious shot after finding the goalkeeper out of position. It was his second of the night and his clearest statement yet after a few quieter matches.

Defensively, Madrid looked solid. Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger kept Bilbao’s forwards quiet, while the goalkeeper made key saves to preserve the clean sheet.

The result lifts Real Madrid back into the title conversation and ends their recent La Liga winless run. For Mbappé, the brace serves as another milestone in what is shaping up to be a strong first season in white.

With fixtures coming quickly, this performance arrives at the perfect moment, and reminds the league of a simple truth: when Mbappé is in top gear, Real Madrid are very hard to stop.