Kylian Mbappe delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice as Real Madrid cruised to a 4-1 victory over Las Palmas on Sunday, taking them to the top of La Liga.
Las Palmas had stunned the Santiago Bernabeu with a goal inside 30 seconds, as Fabio Silva finished off a swift move initiated by Sandro Ramirez. However, Real Madrid responded strongly, with Mbappe leveling from the penalty spot after Sandro fouled Rodrygo Goes.
Mbappe played a key role in Madrid’s second goal, with Brahim Diaz scoring off a rebound from the Frenchman’s saved shot. Mbappe added his second with a brilliant finish into the top corner after a Rodrygo cut-back.
Rodrygo later completed the rout in the second half, converting Fran Garcia’s low cross after a clever pass from Mbappe.
Real Madrid’s win came on the back of slip-ups by Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Atletico’s defeat to Leganes and Barcelona’s draw at Getafe allowed Los Blancos to leapfrog both and take a two-point lead at the top.
“We wanted to win and go top, and we did,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV. “We reacted well after conceding early, played with quality, and we’re happy to be leaders.”
After an inconsistent start following his move from PSG, Mbappe now has 12 league goals and 18 across all competitions this season. “I have adapted to the team and play with personality. We’re all enjoying it,” he added.
The victory also saw the return of David Alaba after more than a year out due to a knee injury, with midfielder Dani Ceballos earning a standing ovation for an outstanding performance.
(Source: AFP)
