Mbappe booed by Bernabeu faithful as Real Madrid get back to winning ways against Oviedo

Los Blancos and Los Azules were certain to end up in second and 20th places respectively, meaning the match was all about pride.

A few Madrid players might have aimed to send a message to Jose Mourinho, rumoured to return as manager for a second stint, and the home side almost began perfectly when Gonzalo Garcia dashed to the line and set up Franco Mastantuono, whose effort from close range was smartly stopped by Aarón Escandell.

The game showed little urgency, yet Trent Alexander-Arnold nearly ignited things in the middle of the first half with a powerful strike from 25 yards that narrowly missed the target.

Brahim Diaz sent a shot over the bar, then Vinicius Junior fluffed a connection with Alexander-Arnold’s delivery, as Los Blancos started to create chances more regularly.

All the same, the away team came close to taking the lead seven minutes shy of the interval after a smooth attack concluded with Nacho Vidal firing wide from six yards.

The defender regretted that opportunity when Diaz stole the ball deep in Oviedo’s territory one minute from the break and located Garcia, who calmly slotted in his fifth LaLiga strike of the campaign from inside the area.

The second period featured more goals than the opening half across Madrid’s last four home league outings, and the Bernabeu supporters hoped that pattern would hold.

The fans rose to their feet 10 minutes post-interval, but just to greet Oviedo’s experienced player and two-time European Championship victor Santi Cazorla entering as a sub.

Cazorla’s team might have equalised soon after, as Alberto Reina mishit a volley at the back post, while Escandell grew tall to thwart Alvaro Carreras up the other end.

Soon afterwards, Vidal squandered his second clear chance by bursting clear but guiding his effort just beyond the upright.

With 21 minutes remaining, Kylian Mbappe returned from injury as a sub, his entry and every involvement met with boos from the Madrid faithful.

The French forward was eager to find the net, yet it was fellow sub Jude Bellingham who confirmed the win 11 minutes from the end, displaying tidy skill on the edge of the area before blasting in his seventh goal of the season in all competitions.

Thibaut Courtois kept his shutout intact with an acrobatic stop on Haissem Hassan’s bending attempt, as Madrid bounced back from their 2-0 loss to Barcelona on Sunday by extending their unbeaten streak at the Bernabéu to five matches (W4, D1).