Mbappé scores again as Real Madrid draw level with Barcelona at La Liga summit

Kylian Mbappé scored for the seventh consecutive match as Real Madrid defeated 10-man Valencia 3-0 on Saturday, moving provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona. Real, managed by José Mourinho, dominated for long periods at Mestalla and secured an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions. Federico Valverde opened the scoring and Arda Güler added a second before half-time.

Mbappé then supplied the decisive finish in the second half, running on to a dangerous Güler pass, moving past Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and scoring his 13th league goal of the campaign. Barcelona can move clear again when they visit third-placed Atlético Madrid on Sunday. In Germany, Bayern Munich beat Mainz 2-1 to preserve their lead over Borussia Dortmund.

Harry Kane did not score, but the Ballon d’Or winner provided assists for Joshua Kimmich and 18-year-old Lennart Karl. Bayern extended their unbeaten away league run to 31 matches and remained ahead of Dortmund on goal difference, with both clubs on 21 points from nine games. The match also became a difficult milestone for Manuel Neuer.

At 40 years and 225 days, the goalkeeper became Bayern’s oldest player, surpassing Bernd Dreher, but he was forced off before half-time with a recurrence of a foot injury. Neuer had returned only recently after missing four games with the same problem. Neuer was also involved in an error when he flailed at a cross that led to Mainz’s Lee Jae-sung putting the ball in the net, although the goal was ruled out for offside.

The Guardian, citing Sofascore and Opta data, reported that Neuer had made five errors leading to goals in his previous 17 Bundesliga appearances, compared with 10 in his first 248 games. Dortmund survived a scare against promoted Elversberg before winning 2-1 through two Felix Nmecha goals. Third-placed RB Leipzig beat Augsburg 5-2, while Eintracht Frankfurt drew 2-2 at Paderborn after Jonathan Burkardt equalised in the 93rd minute.

Stuttgart defeated Werder Bremen 1-0. Paris Saint-Germain recorded an 11th straight victory in all competitions by beating Troyes 1-0. Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi headed in Senny Mayulu’s cross in the 39th minute.

Paris FC won 1-0 at Auxerre through Lassine Sinayoko, who moved to nine Ligue 1 goals in 10 games and helped his side remain second, three points behind PSG. In Italy, Roma beat Sassuolo 3-0, with Mario Hermoso, an own goal by Sebastian Walukiewicz and Rodrigo Mora settling the match.