Mbappe Shines as Real Madrid Tops LaLiga

Real Madrid won 4-1 at Las Palmas on Sunday thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s two goals. The defending champions now lead LaLiga. Real moved ahead of Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Leganes on Saturday, to 46 points, two ahead of their local rivals in second. Barcelona followed in third, seven points behind after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were stunned when Las Palmas’ Fabio Silva scored 25 seconds after kickoff from a Sandro cross, but Real piled on the pressure and Mbappe equalized in the 18th minute after Rodrygo was fouled inside the box.

With Vinicius Jr. suspended for the first of two league games after his red card against Valencia, Mbappe played one of his best all-around games since joining Real from Paris St. Germain last year.

Mbappe was everywhere and linked well with Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, forcing Las Palmas goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to work hard to keep Real at bay.

Kylian Mbappe ran past three defenders and fired a bullet shot from the edge of the box that Cillessen brilliantly saved, but Lucas Vazquez recovered the rebound and set up Brahim Diaz for Real’s second goal in the 33rd minute.

Mbappe expanded their advantage three minutes later with a fine first-time shot into the top corner from a cross by Rodrygo, who scored the fourth on a rapid counter-attack in the 57th minute.

Las Palmas were reduced to 10 men when substitute Benito Ramirez received a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on Lucas Vazquez in the 64th minute.

Despite Real Madrid taking their foot off the gas, they still had three efforts by Mbappe, Bellingham and Federico Valverde ruled out by the VAR for offsides in the build up.

“It was an important win for us because we took advantage of what happened to Atletico and Barcelona on Saturday, we wanted to win and we won,” Mbappe told DAZN.

“Conceding early is hard, but the team reacted well. I think all the fans loved the game since we performed well and are now leaders. We attacked, sought for space, and scored many goals.

“It’s a dream to play for Real and to listen to the fans chant my name, I’m very happy because I’ve adapted to the team and I’m playing the way I want to play and enjoying it again.”