The Japan Times - Mbappe on target as Real Madrid defeat Espanyol

Xabi Alonso's Madrid have won all five of their opening league fixtures and French superstar Mbappe has netted five goals in the top flight.

Eder Militao opened the scoring with a screamer from distance after 22 minutes and Mbappe buried the second from outside the box early in the second half.

Madrid are five points clear of second-place champions Barcelona, who host Getafe on Sunday.

England international Jude Bellingham made a late appearance as a substitute in the final stages, his first since undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer.

Mbappe, who netted twice from the penalty spot in midweek as Madrid started their Champions League campaign with a win over Marseille, helped Alonso's team maintain their 100 percent record across all competitions.

His goal effectively killed the game after Militao head sent Madrid ahead.

Alonso brought Vinicius Junior back into the side and gave young striker Gonzalo Garcia a rare start in an attacking line-up.

Espanyol have not beaten Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu since 1996 but have started this season well, arriving in the capital third.

However their visit to face Los Blancos was a reality check and Madrid were comfortably on top throughout.

Despite their dominance it took a ferocious drive into the top left corner from long range by centre-back Militao to break the deadlock.

Mbappe fired narrowly wide after good work by Vinicius before half-time.

The Brazilian has been benched on a couple of occasions by Alonso and is still playing below his best, although he set up Mbappe for the second.

After driving forward with the ball Vinicius laid it off to Mbappe, who flashed a shot past Marko Dmitrovic at the near post from range.

Vinicius hit the post after Espanyol's Serbian goalkeeper made a fine double save from Mbappe.

Alonso brought on Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga for their first games of the season in the final stages of a comfortable afternoon for Real Madrid.

Earlier Levante romped to a 4-0 win at Girona, who finished with nine men.

The Catalan minnows, who finished third in the 2023/24 campaign to reach the Champions League, are bottom, without a win this season.

"After five weeks we are the worst team in the league and all we can do is work hard," said coach Michel Sanchez.

"I have to improve this team and I will do it. It will be tricky to get out of this situation, but we're not giving up the ghost."

Y.Hara--JT