Kylian Mbappe rediscovered his scoring touch for Real Madrid, netting his first goal in five matches as the reigning champions cruised to 3-0 victory over Leganes in La Liga on Sunday.
Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham also found the net, helping Los Blancos close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to four points, with Madrid holding a crucial game in hand.
The victory came after Barcelona stumbled to a draw against Celta Vigo on Saturday, offering Madrid an opportunity to gain ground in the title race.
Playing at Butarque Stadium in the outskirts of Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s men delivered a composed performance ahead of a pivotal midweek Champions League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
Real Madrid’s lineup showcased both tactical ingenuity and enforced changes. Veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti turned to youth in defense, starting 20-year-old Raul Asencio, while Dani Ceballos and Turkish sensation Arda Guler featured in midfield.
Long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remained unavailable, but Thibaut Courtois made his return between the posts, bolstering Madrid’s defensive stability.
Ancelotti employed a new attacking strategy, shifting Mbappe to his favoured left-wing role and moving Vinicius Junior to a supporting position.
The change bore fruit as Mbappe broke his recent drought, although he had an earlier effort ruled out for offside. The France superstar has faced a turbulent start at Madrid, battling both on-field inconsistencies and off-field distractions, including his second consecutive omission from the France national team squad during the international break.
Madrid started strongly, with Guler almost opening the scoring early on. The young playmaker dazzled as he cut inside from the right, but Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic was equal to his strike.
The breakthrough came just before halftime when Vinicius capitalized on a defensive mix-up, setting up Mbappe at the back post for a simple finish.
The second half saw Madrid assert their dominance. Valverde, handed the captain’s armband for the first time and playing as a makeshift right-back, delivered a moment of magic.
The Uruguayan drilled a low free-kick past Dmitrovic in the 66th minute, doubling Madrid’s lead and showcasing his versatility.
Mbappe came close to doubling his tally with a powerful effort that Dmitrovic managed to parry, but Madrid’s third goal came from Jude Bellingham.
The England midfielder headed home from close range after Brahim Diaz’s deflected shot cannoned off the crossbar. It was Bellingham’s second goal of the season, capping off an excellent team display.
With the victory, Real Madrid’s focus shifts to their Champions League campaign.
After two losses in four group-stage matches, the trip to Anfield is critical for their European hopes. Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments and the return of Courtois offer optimism as Madrid prepares for their high-stakes encounter against Liverpool.
