Real Madrid are keeping the pressure on FC Barcelona in the Spanish title race. However, in the 3-2 home win against Leganes, it once again took the extra class of goal-scoring wizard Mbappé.
On Saturday afternoon, Real’s currently struggling city rivals Atletico had already made a mistake in the tight race for the Spanish league title with a 1-1 draw at Espanyol. This is something Real wanted to avoid at all costs after their 2-1 win at Villarreal.
The Whites were already warned because Leganes had defeated Barcelona (1-0) and Atletico (1-0) in the league this season. However, Real had their own experience to draw on, having beaten Leganes twice in the league (3-0) and the Copa del Rey (3-2).
After a slow first ten minutes, Real Bernabeu tightened the reins late on Saturday night. Mbappé missed the best chance so far in the 25th minute, when his powerful shot was deflected around the post by Dmitrovic. Shortly afterwards, referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes pointed to the spot, much to the guests’ dismay: Arda Güler, who had started for Ancelotti, had gone down in the penalty area. Mbappé accepted the gift and scored cheekily via Panenka (32′).
Leganes, however, wanted to live up to its reputation as the team that always causes upsets for favorites and equalized almost immediately: Garcia pushed the ball over the line on the left in the penalty area (34′). Brahim Diaz then missed the direct reply (36′), which is why Leganes was able to turn the game around completely before half-time: Dani Raba made cold-blooded use of a fatal loss of the ball by Brahim Diaz (41′). Mbappé’s double chance remained unused seconds before half-time (45.+1).
Munir doesn’t play spoilsport
The Whites came out of the dressing room angry and equalized immediately. Bellingham completed a strong performance to make it 2-2 (47”). Those who had expected a clear home win were in for a surprise. Because Real, after Brahim Diaz hitting the post in the 54th minute, did not create enough chances, Ancelotti brought on the Brazilian players Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who had been plagued by World Cup qualifiers, after an hour.
The latter would play a key role: after the final quarter of an hour, Rodrygo was brought down in the penalty area, Mbappé took the free-kick and, after Fran Garcia stopped the ball, scored into the right corner (76) – his 22nd La Liga goal this season. Ex-Schalke Nastasic had opened the wall decisively.
The game was then played out with a sense of tension because Real did not close the deal. It would have been fitting, but former Barcelona pro Munir headed just wide of the right post (88). Because Real also survived the almost eight-minute stoppage time, the champions are keeping the pressure on arch-rivals Barcelona high.
But first, the focus is on the Copa del Rey, where the semi-final is 1-0 up after the first leg on Tuesday and the second leg is at home to Real Sociedad.
