Real Madrid managed a 3-2 comeback victory against Leganes on Saturday, despite resting key players ahead of their Copa del Rey match. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a penalty, but Leganes, battling against relegation, responded strongly to take the lead by halftime, capitalizing on Real Madrid`s disorganized defense.
In the second half, Real Madrid started energetically, with Jude Bellingham scoring an equalizer. The introduction of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde further intensified Real Madrid`s attack, culminating in Mbappe scoring his second goal from a clever set-piece play to secure the win.
This victory puts Real Madrid level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, although Barcelona has a game in hand against Girona on Sunday. Real Madrid can only focus on their own performance, as the title race might come down to El Clásico in May if both teams maintain their current form. This match against Leganes proved more challenging than anticipated, but these are the games where Real Madrid can gain valuable insights about themselves.
Jude Bellingham`s Goal Instinct
Bellingham`s equalizing goal showcased his determination. Within 90 seconds of the second half kickoff, Bellingham reacted quickly after his initial shot was saved and Brahim Diaz`s follow-up was blocked. When the ball rebounded to Bellingham, he confidently scored. This was Bellingham`s seventh La Liga goal this season, along with six assists. Importantly, it was a goal resulting from a late run into the penalty area.
Bellingham frequently made these runs last season when Real Madrid lacked a natural striker, but it has been less common this season following Mbappe`s arrival. In the second half, Bellingham essentially played as a second striker, taking three shots with an expected goals (xG) value of one. He effectively positioned himself, interchanging with Mbappe, and maintained his passing accuracy while contributing to the team`s attacking efforts.
Kylian Mbappe`s Impact
While Mbappe could have been more clinical with his nine shots, his two goals, including the winning goal, were crucial for Real Madrid. His brace brought his La Liga tally to 22 goals, equaling Robert Lewandowski in the Golden Boot race. The team is clearly focused on getting Mbappe involved in the game early and often.
He is increasingly receiving the ball at his feet and during counter-attacks, proving highly effective. As Real Madrid competes for a treble this season, Mbappe`s goals will be vital. Despite a somewhat slow start at Madrid, Mbappe is now meeting the high expectations associated with the club. With Mbappe performing at this level, Real Madrid is evolving into a formidable team at a critical point in the season.
Concerns About Squad Depth
Despite the victory, several Real Madrid players did not perform convincingly. Brahim Diaz conceded possession leading to a Leganes goal, while Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio were defensively vulnerable. The match became unnecessarily difficult, which Carlo Ancelotti will note. While some struggles are expected after an international break and with player rotation, Real Madrid`s squad depth will be tested again with three games in seven days. Their Champions League quarterfinal matches against Arsenal are scheduled around La Liga games against Valencia and Alaves, teams with a similar profile to Leganes. Although Real Madrid has shown resilience in securing results, they need more consistent performances to seriously challenge Barcelona for the La Liga title.
Looking Ahead
Real Madrid faces a busy schedule, starting with the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Tuesday, April 1st. With a 1-0 advantage and playing at home, Real Madrid will be confident going into the match. The Champions League fixtures against Arsenal are also approaching. Leganes will need to quickly recover from this narrow defeat in their fight against relegation and will play against Osasuna on April 7th.
Dominic Ashworth