Kylian Mbappe makes his home debut for Real Madrid, but record-breaking Endrick steals the spotlight.
Superstar signing fails to score at the Bernabeu, but a teenage Brazilian makes an immediate difference in a 3-0 La Liga victory over Valladolid.
The superstar striker Kylian Mbappe was set to make his home debut at the Bernabeu on this auspicious day, but Brazilian prodigy Endrick took center stage as Real Madrid defeated Valladolid 3-0 in La Liga.
Mbappe is yet to score in the first two league games after going goalless in the season’s opening 1-1 draw against Mallorca last week. Mbappe did score in Madrid’s Uefa Super Cup victory over Atalanta at the beginning of the campaign.
Madrid, missing Jude Bellingham due to injury, did not produce much in the first half but managed to win their first game of the year in the second half. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is still two points behind rivals Barcelona, who defeated Athletic Club 2-1 on Saturday owing to goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
The tenacious Valladolid defense vexed the defending champions, and it took until the 50th minute for Real to take the lead thanks to a deflection from midfielder Fede Valverde, who hammered in a strong low free ick.
Summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain Mbappe wasted a great chance to open the scoring when Vinicius Junior cut the ball across to him, but Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein made a great stop.
After missing a second opportunity to nterattack, the France captain was substituted in the 86th minute by 18-year-old striker Endrick.
Moments later, Brahim Diaz, another replacement, doubled the score by winning a long ball from Eder Militao and diving it past Karl Hein, the goalie for Valladolid. And in stoppage time, Endrick enhanced the score with a well-hit strike inside the near post, sealing the victory.
With the goal, Endrick surpassed French defender Raphael Varane, who was 18 years, 152 days old when he scored for Madrid in 2011, to become the youngest foreign player to score for the team in the Spanish league (18 years, 35 days).
When speaking on Endrick, Madrid coach Ancelotti remarked, “He’s looking very good and he has a lot of potential.” “He has demonstrated his skill very fast with his control and strength of shot. He is a center forward who is quite threatening in confined situations.
Endrick was only 16 years old in 2022 when he was traded for more than €40 million, including add-ons, by Brazilian team Palmeiras to Madrid. After turning eighteen, he continued with Palmeiras until coming to Madrid for this season.
Vinicius and Rodrygo, who are currently regular starters for the Champions League winners from the previous season, were previously acquired by Madrid through similar agreements.
Endrick, who did not see action in the team’s opening two games of the season—against Atalanta in the Uefa Super Cup and at Mallorca—deserves it, according to Valverde. “He needs to keep working hard because he deserves it; he still has a long way to go with this club.”