Mbappe double as Real Madrid wave goodbye to Ancelotti, Modric
Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti is tossed into the air by players at the end of the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on May 24, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
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Kylian Mbappe virtually wrapped up the European Golden Shoe award with a brace as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday, on an emotional home farewell to Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric.
The Italian is leaving to coach
the Brazilian national team, drawing a curtain on his second spell at the club
where he won a 15 trophies during a total of six years in charge.
Croatian midfielder Modric will
play at the Club World Cup for Madrid but this was his final game at the
Santiago Bernabeu. He was given a guard of honour when replaced late on.
Madrid fans displayed banners
showing their affection for Modric and Ancelotti and sang both names on an
emotional afternoon for Los Blancos.
It was a profitable one too for
Mbappe, who scored twice to take the lead in the Golden Shoe standings from
Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah could
yet claim the prize, if he scores four goals against Crystal Palace on Sunday
in the final round of Premier League matches.
Mbappe was denied early on by
Unai Marrero and then fired another decent opportunity over.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin
made a good save from Sergio Gomez, who should have scored as he ran clean through
but his effort was tame.
Pablo Marin handled as Arda Guler
tried to flick the ball past him and Madrid were awarded a penalty after a VAR
review.
Mbappe's poor penalty was saved
by Marrero but the French superstar turned home the rebound for his 30th league
goal.
Ancelotti brought on Vinicius
Junior after an injury to Brahim Diaz, who picked up a knock as Madrid looked
to sign off a disappointing season, without winning a major trophy, in style
ahead of the Club World Cup in the
United States.
Madrid wide man Lucas Vazquez,
out of contract this summer after spending his whole career at the club, bar
one season on loan at Espanyol, was given an ovation as he was substituted.
Mbappe netted his second after
Vinicius teed him up to move six goals clear of Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski
in the battle to be La Liga top scorer.
Many at the Bernabeu were in
tears when Modric departed late on, embraced by former Madrid midfield partner
Toni Kroos on the touchline.
Madrid finish the season second
in La Liga, behind champions Barcelona, who also beat them in the Copa del Rey
and Spanish Super Cup finals. The champions face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in
their last La Liga game.


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