Kylian Mbappe marked his return to scoring for Real Madrid with a decisive goal as the team secured a 3-0 victory over Leganes in La Liga on Sunday. Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham also scored, propelling Madrid to second place, trailing Barcelona by four points with a game in hand.
Madrid capitalized on Barcelona’s recent draw at Celta Vigo with a convincing win against the 14th-placed Leganes. This victory was an ideal warm-up before their crucial Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield.
“The team carried over the positive momentum from our previous 4-0 win against Osasuna, and we reaffirmed that today,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remarked.
🏁 @CDLeganes 0-3 @realmadridpt
⚽ 43' @KMbappe
⚽ 66' @fedeevalverde
⚽ 85' @BellinghamJude#LeganésRealMadrid | @Emirates pic.twitter.com/jqb6KbEl8A
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇧🇷🇵🇹 (@realmadridpt) November 24, 2024Ancelotti made strategic lineup changes, including a start for Turkish playmaker Arda Guler and a rare inclusion of Dani Ceballos. Despite missing key players like Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returned for the match in the Madrid suburbs at Butarque.
A tactical adjustment saw Mbappe starting on his preferred left wing, replacing Vinicius Junior. This change paid off when Mbappe scored his second goal in eight games, despite having an earlier strike disqualified for offside.
“We adjusted the forwards’ positions, with Mbappe on the wing performing well, just like Vinicius did inside,” Ancelotti explained.
Recently excluded from the French national team and grappling with personal issues, Mbappe has faced challenges since his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Guler initiated Madrid’s offence with a notable attempt saved by Marko Dmitrovic. Before halftime, Mbappe opened the scoring, assisted by Vinicius at the back post amidst defensive confusion from Leganes.
Valverde, assuming captaincy and playing as a right-back, extended Madrid’s lead with a free-kick in the 66th minute.
Dmitrovic later blocked a strong attempt by Mbappe, who nearly secured a second goal. The victory was sealed by Bellingham, who headed in a rebound after Brahim Diaz’s shot deflected onto the crossbar.
Reflecting on the game, Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez conceded, “We played well in the first half but lost control due to our mistakes, which they exploited.”
Praising 21-year-old centre-back Raul Asencio on his debut start, Ancelotti expressed satisfaction, noting his maturity and strategic positioning, underscoring the youth academy’s effectiveness.
