By Kylian Mbappe ended his five-game scoring drought as Real Madrid dispatched Leganes 3-0 Sunday, moving within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a game in hand ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League visit to Liverpool.
The French forward, deployed in his preferred left-wing position in a tactical shift by manager Carlo Ancelotti, broke the deadlock before halftime after being set up by Vinicius Junior. Fede Valverde, captaining Madrid for the first time while playing as an makeshift right-back, doubled the lead with a powerful free-kick in the 66th minute before Jude Bellingham headed home his second goal of the season.
“We changed the position of the forwards, with Mbappe outside and he did well, like Vinicius inside,” Ancelotti said, explaining his tactical adjustment that paid dividends against 14th-placed Leganes. The goal marked a welcome return to form for Mbappe, who had been left out of France’s squad during the recent international break and scored just once in his previous eight appearances since joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
Real capitalized on Barcelona’s Saturday stumble at Celta Vigo to close the gap at the top, while building momentum before their midweek trip to Anfield. Madrid need a positive result against Liverpool after losing two of their first four European matches this season.
The victory also marked an impressive debut for 21-year-old academy graduate Raul Asencio at center-back, earning praise from Ancelotti: “It surprised me in that he’s a player with maturity, always well positioned… it means the youth academy has done a good job with him.”
Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez lamented his team’s mistakes proving costly against clinical opposition. “We were very comfortable in the first half, playing the game we wanted to, but to concede after a mistake… hurts more. With the smallest opportunities, they punished us.”
