Kylian Mbappe showcased his superstar qualities once again by scoring twice as Real Madrid mounted a thrilling comeback to edge past Leganes 3-2 on Saturday. The victory at the Santiago Bernabeu pulls Los Blancos level on points with arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Real Madrid started brightly, with Mbappe confidently converting a penalty to open the scoring. However, Leganes, fighting to avoid relegation, struck back impressively. Goals from Diego Garcia and Dani Raba turned the game on its head before halftime, stunning the home crowd.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s halftime team talk seemed to invigorate Madrid. British sensation Jude Bellingham brought the hosts level early in the second half with a composed finish. The stage was then set for Mbappe, who delivered a moment of magic by curling a free-kick into the net, securing all three points for the reigning champions.
“Mbappe is making the difference, and that’s what we expect from him,” Ancelotti praised after the match.
Mbappe’s double brings his tally to 33 goals in 44 appearances this season, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive debut season record at Real Madrid. “It’s very special to equal Cristiano’s number of goals,” Mbappe shared with Real Madrid TV. “We know what he means to Real Madrid and to me. He gives me a lot of advice. He scored many goals, but we have to win trophies here.”
With this win, Real Madrid applies pressure on Barcelona, who face Girona in a Catalan derby on Sunday. Both teams now sit six points clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid, whose title hopes took a hit after a 1-1 draw with Espanyol earlier on Saturday.
As the season approaches its climax, the race for the La Liga title intensifies. Fans around the world will be eagerly watching as Mbappe and Real Madrid continue their pursuit of glory.
