Breaking down Kylian Mbappe’s seven-minute Champions League hat-trick

Kylian Mbappe stunned Olympiacos with a seven-minute hat-trick in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

His Real Madrid side had gone 1-0 down after just eight minutes in Greece, after a well-worked move from Olympiacos saw playmaker Chiquinho lash the ball in from outside the area.

That early goal appeared to compound what has been a testing November for Xabi Alonso and his Madrid side, who had only won one of their four matches in the month heading into the Olympiacos fixture.

But Madrid and Mbappe responded rapidly, with the Frenchman scoring the second-fastest hat-trick in men’s Champions League history from the 22nd minute to the 29th. It could have been even better for the away side going into half-time, but Vinicius Junior’s curled effort in the 32nd minute was ruled out for offside.

The three goals were Mbappe’s 19th, 20th and 21st of the season for Madrid, in only his 18th appearance. He then scored his 22nd goal in the second half.

A remarkable seven minutes for the Frenchman

Mbappe’s first goal came when Vinicius Jr curled an excellent ball with the outside of his right boot behind the Olympiacos defence.

The 26-year-old raced onto the pass, which bounced perfectly into his path, and without breaking stride, he struck a shot through the legs of Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from the edge of the box.

Just two minutes later, Vinicius Jr beat Olympiacos right-back Rodinei for pace down the wing, and although the cross was cleared, the ball eventually reached Arda Guler down the right side of the penalty area.

The Turkish playmaker clipped a cross with his right (weaker) foot. Mbappe leapt into the air and powered a header from 10 yards out into the net, giving Tzolakis no chance at all.

Five minutes later, Eduardo Camavinga was given time and space in the centre circle to pick his pass over the top to Mbappe.

Rodinei tried to step out and play Mbappe offside, but he had misjudged the situation and the Madrid No 10 was clearly onside.

Mbappe again made it look very easy, taking one touch to control, another to set himself, before curling the ball to the corner, giving Tzolakis no chance again — another stunningly clinical goal.

It took just six minutes and 42 seconds for the scoreline to change from 1-0 to Olympiacos to 3-1 to Madrid. The hat-trick was the second-fastest in Champions League history, behind Mohamed Salah’s six-minute and 12-second treble for Liverpool against Rangers in 2022.

The quick-fire hat-trick changed the mood completely in the stadium, and a Madrid team who had looked shaky were now comfortable and confident.

Mbappe’s fourth goal came in the 60th minute, and again it was Vinicius Jr who was the creator. Aurelien Tchouameni’s raking pass picked out the Brazil international, who easily dribbled past Panagiotis Retsos down the left side of the Olympiacos penalty area.

When Vinicius Jr flicked the ball across the six-yard box, Mbappe stretched to reach it ahead of Lorenzo Pirola and diverted it to the net with his studs.

What else happened in the game?

Olympiacos’ well-organised high pressing was really unsettling Madrid early on, and it seemed that Jose Luis Mendilibar was winning the battle of coaches against his fellow Spaniard Alonso as the home team went 1-0 ahead.

But Mendilibar’s side regularly pushed so far up the pitch that lots of space was left in behind, which Madrid’s attackers mercilessly exploited on the counter-attack.

Madrid midfielder Camavinga, meanwhile, was withdrawn for Dani Ceballos at half-time. Sources with knowledge of Camavinga’s condition, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, told The Athletic he was struggling with illness before the match, and this was the reason for the substitution.

Vinicius Jr’s lovely assist for Mbappe’s equaliser ended the Brazilian’s run of seven games without a goal contribution. It comes in the same week The Athletic reported that Vinicius Jr has informed the club he does not wish to renew his contract while his relationship with Alonso remains strained.

Mehdi Taremi headed home Olympiacos’ second goal, while Ayoub El Kaabi scored their third late on, but it was not enough as Madrid won 4-3 and picked up three points.

What was said?

“It was very important to win again,” Mbappe told Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “We knew that we had gone three games without a win, which is an awful lot for a team like us.

“I’m very happy, scoring goals is always a pleasure for me. My team-mates have a lot of quality, get the ball to me, I am very lucky to play in this team with all the players in this squad.

“In the end, we are all together. I’m not going to say we are against the people outside, but in the end we are together, with all Madridistas. I know that the Madridistas are with us and we have to be proud with this badge, as we are going to play for many things this season.”

Additional reporting: Mario Cortegana