As Real Madrid prepare for their Champions League finale, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks at how the defending champions have found their form.

Mbappé now has 22 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid this season after his first hat trick for the club in Saturday's victory over Real Valladolid.

Kylian Mbappe bagged his first hat-trick for Real Madrid as the LaLiga champions easily beat bottom-club Real Valladolid 3-0 on Saturday to extend their lead on top of the standings.

A 3-0 win away at Real Valladolid on Saturday was their fourth successive win in La Liga. Los Pucelanos are bottom of the table and before and during the match their fans protested loudly against their president — and Madrid legend — Ronaldo Nazario for his management of the club.

Tradition dictates that teammates sign the match ball after a player scores a hat-trick, and Kylian Mbappé is no exception as Real Madrid stars wrote after his first.

Real Madrid faced Real Valladolid in one of the most uneven of contests as both these sides were on the opposite ends of the table when they faced each other on matchday 21 of La Liga 2024-25.This

With the match ball safely tucked underneath his arm, a beaming Kylian Mbappe walked off the Estadio Jose Zorilla pitch soaking up the plaudits from fans and teammates alike. The French striker had just scored all of Real Madrid's goals in a 3-0 La Liga win at Real Valladolid,