Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the Spanish league season with a swashbuckling 4-1 victory at Levante on Tuesday.
Vinícius Júnior orchestrated the visitors’ first-half display before Kylian Mbappe’s second-half double, including a penalty, sealed a comprehensive win.
The Brazil winger found form in Valencia, striking a brilliant opener in the 28th minute with the outside of his boot. Vinícius turned provider 11 minutes later, threading the ball through to new arrival Franco Mastantuono, who doubled Madrid’s advantage from close range.
Levante briefly threatened a comeback through Etta Eyong’s header in the 54th minute, but Mbappé restored Madrid’s two-goal cushion nine minutes later. The France forward produced a Panenka penalty after Unai Elgezabal’s rash challenge, and then rounded Mat Ryan to score the fourth goal from Arda Guler’s pass.
The result keeps Xabi Alonso’s side top of the table on 18 points after six matches, stretching their lead to five points over reigning champions Barcelona, who go to Real Oviedo on Thursday. Levante are languishing in 16th place on four points.
Villarreal moved up to third after Manor Solomon’s late goal earned a 2-1 victory at Sevilla. Marcelino’s side took a half-time lead through Tani Oluwaseyi, but the hosts levelled through Djibril Sow’s fine left-footed finish. Substitute Solomon then struck at the back post in the 86th minute after a run and pass from Georges Mikautadze.
Earlier, Javi Puado scored a 96th-minute equaliser for fourth-placed Espanyol in a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia, and bottom club Girona held Athletic Club to a 1-1 draw at San Mamés, Mikel Jauregizar cancelling out Azzedine Ounahi’s opener.
Elsewhere, Christopher Nkunku scored his first Milan goal as the Rossoneri swept 10-man Lecce aside in their Coppa Italia second-round match at San Siro.
Massimiliano Allegri was serving the second of his two-game cup suspension but his team attacked from the outset and took charge after Lecce’s Jamil Siebert was sent off for denying Nkunku a clear goalscoring opportunity.
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Two minutes later, Davide Bartesaghi crossed for Santiago Giménez to stab the ball home and after Adrien Rabiot and Ruben Loftus-Cheek had hit the woodwork, Nkunku finished acrobatically from Alexis Saelemaekers’ cross before producing a red balloon for his trademark celebration.
Milan finished the job through second-half substitute Christian Pulisic, who struck from Youssouf Fofana’s cross moments after coming on. Allegri’s side will face Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in the last 16 in December.
Udinese will travel to Juventus next after earning a 2-1 win over Palermo, while Cagliari must go to Napoli after easing to a 4-1 victory over Frosinone.
