Kylian Mbappe ended his five-game goal drought for Real Madrid by scoring in a commanding 3-0 victory over Leganes on Sunday in La Liga.
Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham also found the net, helping Los Blancos climb to second place, four points behind leaders Barcelona, with a game in hand. The win came after Barcelona’s draw with Celta Vigo on Saturday, allowing Madrid to gain ground in the title race.
The match served as a strong tune-up for Madrid's crucial Champions League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday. The team has struggled in Europe this season, with two losses in four games, but coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with their recent form.
"The team carried over the positive momentum from our win against Osasuna and confirmed it today," Ancelotti remarked.
The Italian manager fielded a slightly rotated squad, including young center-back Raul Asencio and Turkish playmaker Arda Güler, while giving Dani Ceballos a rare start. Despite missing key players like Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his return to the lineup.
Mbappe, deployed in his preferred left-wing role for the first time, replaced Vinicius Junior in that position—a tactical switch that paid off. Although the French forward had an early goal disallowed for offside, he eventually broke the deadlock just before halftime. Vinicius set him up at the back post after capitalizing on defensive confusion from Leganes.
"We adjusted the roles of the forwards, putting Mbappe wide and Vinicius more central, and it worked well," Ancelotti explained.
Mbappe, who has faced recent off-field challenges and missed consecutive international call-ups for France, seems to be finding his rhythm at Madrid following his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Güler nearly opened the scoring early in the game, but his shot was parried by Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. Mbappe’s goal, however, ensured Real Madrid took control before Valverde and Bellingham sealed the comprehensive victory.
