Mbappé and Militão strike from distance as Real Madrid deals Espanyol first loss

By Canadian Press on September 20, 2025.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and Éder Militão scored from well outside the area to help Real Madrid ease past Espanyol 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday, dealing the Barcelona-based side its first loss.

Espanyol gave Militão a smidgen of space and the Brazil defender fired a right-footed screamer into the top corner in the 22nd minute. A diving Marko Dmitrovic got his fingers on the ball but couldn’t stop the powerful strike.

It was Mbappé’s turn in the 47th when he had time to pick a spot in the bottom corner and smashed a strike that Dmitrovic could only watch nestle into the net.

Mbappé has seven goals in six games for Madrid this season, including a double in its 2-1 win over Marseille to start the Champions League on Tuesday.

Madrid moved five points clear of Espanyol and Barcelona, which hosts fifth-placed Getafe at its 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham went on as a substitute for the final minutes in his first appearance since he underwent an operation on his left shoulder on July 16.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press

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