Real Madrid struck first on 30 minutes when Arda Güler finished a flowing move set up by Yan Diomande. The second arrived seven minutes later as Kylian Mbappé received from Jude Bellingham and slotted from close range for 2-0. After the break, Mbappé won a penalty and converted it himself in the 63rd minute, smashing high down the middle. Sevilla hit back on 80 minutes, Manu Bueno guiding in a low finish after Lucas Stassin’s lay-off. Any hopes of a late push were short-lived, as Diomande curled in the fourth two minutes later from the right channel after Aurélien Tchouaméni’s pass.

Discipline notes added to the tempo: Dean Huijsen and Félix Correia were booked in the 23rd minute following an argument, while Juan Iglesias (69′) and Marc Cucurella (73′) also saw yellow for fouls. Andrés Castrin conceded the spot kick that Mbappé converted. Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer managed a lively evening with four cautions and two lengthy stoppage periods. By full time, the scoreline fairly reflected the sharper side in both penalty areas.

Control through possession and passing

Madrid owned the ball with 65% possession and stacked up 666 passes to Sevilla’s 350, completing 604 of them. Their build-up fed the final third repeatedly, logging 59 entries compared to Sevilla’s 46. The hosts also stitched together long switches more reliably, finishing 33 of 51 long balls at 65% accuracy; Sevilla were 19 of 45 at 42%. Touches in the penalty area read 36 to 24, another sign of territory and pressure. Even when the hosts crossed less frequently, they still matched Sevilla’s accuracy trend in a low-yield category (2/8 vs 3/15).

Madrid’s control showed in the ratings too, with an average team Sofascore Rating of 7.76 against Sevilla’s 6.57. Both lined up in a 4-2-3-1, but Madrid’s double pivot and back line circulated the ball with fewer errors and more progression. Corners finished 1-2, which underscored that the game flow was less about set pieces and more about clean entries and combinations. Duels were nearly even at 51% to 49%, yet the hosts consistently moved the ball one pass earlier and one touch quicker. That tempo advantage helped Madrid play most of the evening on the front foot.

Shots, xG and the goalkeeping swing

The shot count leaned Madrid’s way at 15 to 11, with 8 to 5 on target. Expected goals landed at 2.24 for Madrid and 0.75 for Sevilla, and expected goals on target came in at 2.86 to 1.07. Sevilla created two big chances but finished none, highlighted by misses from Robbie Ure and Youssouf Fofana. Madrid created two big chances and converted both. Inside the box the split was tight (10 to 9), but Madrid added five attempts from range to Sevilla’s two.

Individual xG moments tell the story of quality and conviction. Mbappé’s penalty carried an xG of 0.79 and his first goal was a high-probability look as well. Manu Bueno’s reply (xG 0.05) and Diomande’s late strike (xG 0.05) showed how clinical finishing can tilt a game. In goal, Thibaut Courtois made four saves and posted +0.07 goals prevented, steady when called upon. Odysseas Vlachodimos had three saves but a -1.14 goals prevented line, a swing that aligned with Madrid’s sharper finishing. Madrid also won 61% of their tackles compared to Sevilla’s 45%, which cut off transitions before they developed. Sevilla did force 20 tackles and produced 46 recoveries, but the hosts’ timing in key defensive actions proved more decisive.

MVP watch: Yan Diomande’s all-around show

Yan Diomande earned a Sofascore Rating of 9.2 and felt involved in every phase. He scored the fourth goal with a composed right-foot finish and assisted the opener for Güler. Beyond the headline moments, he completed 58 of 65 passes and logged 86 touches, linking wide areas and half-spaces. His carrying game was relentless, with 36 carries for 423 meters and 11 progressive carries totaling over 253 meters. He added a key pass, two accurate tackles from two attempts and four recoveries, plus an interception.

Diomande also mixed creativity with risk, attempting two crosses and finding one target. He tested Sevilla with four shots and drove at defenders repeatedly, even as he split his duels at 5 won and 7 lost. The volume and territory he produced, especially late, kept Madrid advancing in waves. In short, he combined end product with build-up glue, which is why the numbers liked him so much. Close behind in the Sofascore Rating were Arda Güler at 8.6, who scored and created three key passes, and Kylian Mbappé at 8.3 with a brace including a cool penalty.