“One, two, three, four — vive la France.” With a stunning four-goal performance, Kylian Mbappé dragged Real Madrid to a wild victory in Greece, outlasting an Olympiakos side that refused to fold and kept clawing its way back into the match.
At this point, Mbappé is making our writers sound like broken records. Extraordinary. Match-winner. Spectacular. Savior. The superlatives have long been exhausted when it comes to describing the Frenchman’s performances. Yet in Piraeus, in a match that had all the makings of a classic trap game, Real Madrid badly needed him.
The night started in the worst possible way for Xabi Alonso’s side. Only eight minutes in, Chiquinho put Olympiakos ahead, leaving Madrid in the uncomfortable position of chasing the game once again after three straight matches without a win.
Between the 22nd and the 29th minute, Mbappé flipped the script entirely. First, he latched onto a through ball from Vinícius Jr. and finished with one of his trademark runs in behind. Minutes later, he doubled the lead with a powerful header, showcasing an often-overlooked part of his arsenal. And at the 29-minute mark, he struck again, replicating his first goal with another perfectly timed run and composed finish. Three goals in seven minutes — a personal blitz that erased Madrid’s doubts and overturned the match.
Yet despite Mbappé’s brilliance, this was a fragile performance from Madrid. With an experimental back line, defensive cohesion was lacking, and Lunin was repeatedly called upon to save the visitors from trouble.
Olympiakos exploited that weakness after the break, with Mehdi Taremi cutting the deficit to 3–2. But Mbappé wasn’t done. On another assist from a lively Vinícius, he scored his fourth of the night to restore breathing room. Even then, Real couldn’t enjoy a calm ending: Ayoub El Kaabi struck late to make it 4–3 and ensure a tense finale.
Madrid held on, though, securing their fourth victory of the campaign and tightening their grip on a top-eight spot — and with it, a direct path to the Champions League round of 16.
Mbappé, once again, was the difference. No surprise there.