Can Erozden
23 December 2024•Update: 23 December 2024
ANKARA
Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 on Sunday in 39-year-old veteran right winger and full-back Jesus Navas' last game as a professional footballer.
The Sevilla captain came off the bench in the second half as the crowd at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium paid tribute to him.
Navas played 705 games to score 39 goals for Sevilla and made 119 assists for his club across two spells. He helped Sevilla win four UEFA Europa League titles.
Navas also won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the EURO 2012 and 2024 titles with his native Spain.
He also played for Manchester City to bag the 2014 English Premier League title.
In Sunday's home game against Sevilla, Real Madrid drew first blood as The Whites' French superstar Kylian Mbappe scored a long-range stunner.
Real Madrid's Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde also sent a long-range missile towards the goal to double the gap in the 20th minute.
Brazilian winger Rodrygo made it 3-0 for Real Madrid only a minute before Sevilla striker Isaac Romero scored a header.
Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz finished in the box following fine teamwork in the 53rd minute, making it 4-1.
On a quick counterattack, Sevilla's Dodi Lukebakio scored a low shot that beat Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 85th minute, making it 4-2.
Winners Real Madrid leapfrogged their bitter rivals Barcelona into second place in the Spanish La Liga table.
Atletico Madrid have 41 points in 18 matches to end 2024 as the Spanish leaders.
Their city rivals Real Madrid have 40 points. Meanwhile, Barcelona are third with 38 points after they lost to Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a Saturday home match.
The La Liga is set to enter the Christmas break to observe the annual holy festival, and there will be no football fixtures in the Spanish top division for the rest of this year.
The league will see the Valencia vs. Real Madrid fixture at Mestalla Stadium on Jan. 3, as the matchweek 12 game was previously postponed due to Storm Dana.
