Mbappé scores again as Real Madrid wins easily, Lazio needs late winner to go top in Italy
MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored again as Real Madrid won 3-0 at Racing Santander to keep pace with Spanish leader Barcelona on Sunday, while Lazio went top of Serie A after beating Cagliari 2-1.
Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 in a rare win at Anfield to go top of the Premier League.
Lazio took full advantage of defending champion Inter Milan's loss to city rival AC Milan on Saturday to move three points ahead, but needed a late winner from striker Andrea Pinamonti to earn its ninth win in 10 matches for its best-ever start. Later Sunday, Juventus hosted Napoli.
The Spanish league held a moment of silence before every match this weekend to remember the victims of the deadly train crash in Spain.
Mbappé scored his 12th league goal this season to put Madrid ahead with an 11th-minute penalty, having been fouled himself. He was involved in Jude Bellingham's goal — the England midfielder's 50th goal with Madrid — midway through the first half.
“We played very well. It was very important to win after the victory at Camp Nou, so we are very happy,” Bellingham said. “Reaching 50 goals with Real Madrid is very special. Not only for me and my dreams but also for the team.”
Madrid was coming off a 2-1 win at Barcelona in the previous round.
Summer signing Yan Diomandé's powerful strike made it 3-0 before halftime.
Madrid is in third place, one point behind Atletico Madrid and three behind free-scoring Barcelona.
On Tuesday, Mbappé apologized for comments in which he apparently referred to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China, as a dictator, after facing backlash and losing brand deals with Chinese companies.
That came a day after he finished second behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane in the men's Ballon d'Or award.
Also in Spain, struggling Getafe rallied to beat Sevilla 3-1 with forward Martín Satriano setting up the equalizer for striker Enes Ünal and then scoring himself. Orel Mangala netted a late third.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni struck a young fan in the stands with a shot early in the second half.
The kid did not appear to be seriously hurt but started crying immediately.
After the game, Tchouaméni met with the child, and his father, and gave them an autographed jersey.
Mbappé also briefly talked to them, joking that Tchouaméni doesn't know how to shoot.
Arsenal earned its first win at Anfield in 14 years, thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal.
Arsenal hadn't won at Liverpool since 2012, when current manager Mikel Arteta was commanding the team’s midfield. Havertz scored the winner in the 16th minute.
The Gunners leapfrogged Manchester City into top spot and hold a three-point lead.
Niko Iličević made his debut in Frankfurt's 3-1 win over Hamburg at 16 years, 1 day old, matching Youssoufa Moukoko (for Borussia Dortmund in 2020) as the youngest player in Bundesliga history.
Iličević came into the game in stoppage time.
Frankfurt also beat Hamburg 3-1 in the German Cup on Tuesday.
In another cup game rematch, Cologne and Union Berlin drew 1-1. Cologne had routed Union Berlin 5-0 in the German Cup.
Pinamonti came on as a second-half substitute and ripped off his sky-blue Lazio jersey in celebration after netting the winner in the 83rd.
Gustav Isaksen equalized for Lazio late in the first half after Cagliari striker M’Bala Nzola had put the Sardinian side in the lead in the 21st.
The win gave Lazio its best start in club history, with nine wins and one draw in its opening 10 league games.
Elsewhere, France midfielder Lucas Da Cunha's penalty late in the first half helped fourth-place Como to a 1-0 home win against rock-bottom Venezia, which has lost nine of 10 games.
Frosinone consolidated sixth spot with a 2-0 win over Torino.
Lyon moved into third place and stayed ahead of Paris FC on goal difference after both sides won.
Goals from Ghana forward Ernest Nuamah and veteran midfielder Corentin Tolisso gave Lyon a 2-0 home win against Angers, while Mali striker Lassine Sinayoko's brace helped Paris FC beat Monaco 3-1 at home.
United States forward Folarin Balogun scored for Monaco.
Strasbourg routed Auxerre 5-1 at home with striker Gessime Yassine scoring twice.
Later Sunday, Marseille looked for its fourth straight league win when it hosted Toulouse.
Defending champion PSG won on Friday.
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AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire contributed to this report.
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