A Dramatic Turnaround at the Bernabéu
Real Madrid pulled off a thrilling 3-2 comeback win against Leganés on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu, leveling on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona. After initially trailing, Carlo Ancelotti’s side turned the game on its head, with superstar Kylian Mbappe playing a pivotal role in the victory.
Mbappe’s Moment of Brilliance
The French forward opened his account from the penalty spot after a dubious decision saw Oscar Rodriguez involved in a tangled challenge with Leganés midfielder Arda Guler. Although the early lead was short-lived—Diego Garcia quickly capitalized to level the score—Mbappe redeemed himself just four minutes into the second half by equalizing with a clinical finish. Later, with his team under pressure, Mbappe whipped home a stunning free-kick in the 76th minute, securing three crucial points and taking his tally to 33 goals across all competitions in 44 games. Reflecting on the milestone, Mbappe remarked, “It’s very special… to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good. We know what he means for Real Madrid and me, we speak, he gives me a lot of advice, he scored many goals — but we have to win trophies here.”
Tactical Shifts and Contributions from the Team
Manager Carlo Ancelotti made strategic changes ahead of the game, benching Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes due to their commitments with Brazil, and starting Mbappe alongside Brahim Diaz in attack. Jude Bellingham further bolstered Madrid’s resurgence early in the second half by scoring his eighth league goal. Despite a brief setback when Diaz’s build-up play led to a goal for Leganés, Ancelotti’s substitutions—bringing on Vinicius and Rodrygo—proved decisive. The creative interplay among Madrid’s attackers, combined with Mbappe’s brilliance, ultimately overcame Leganés’ resistance.
Atletico Madrid’s Inconsistency Woes
In a separate match that further complicated the title race, Atletico Madrid’s hopes took another hit with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Espanyol. After Cesar Azpilicueta blasted the visitors ahead with his first goal for Atletico in three years, Espanyol clawed back through a controversial penalty awarded after Clement Lenglet pulled Leandro Cabrera’s shirt. Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak lamented the loss of crucial points, emphasizing, “If we don’t have consistency we can’t fight for the title.” Manager Diego Simeone conceded that the draw was fair but underscored the need for improved performance as teams behind them continue to close the gap.
Looking Ahead in La Liga
With Real Madrid now level on points with Barcelona and six points clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid, the race for the Scudetto remains fiercely contested. The pressure is mounting ahead of Barcelona’s upcoming Catalan derby against Girona. Meanwhile, Madrid’s impressive comeback provides a much-needed boost as they aim to maintain momentum in the title race.
