Kylian Mbappe was back among the goals as Real Madrid defeated Leganes 3-0 to close in on LALIGA leaders FC Barcelona.
LALIGA
Result: Leganes 0-3 Real Madrid
Date: 24 November 2024
Venue: Estadio Municipal de Butarque
With a UEFA Champions League encounter against Liverpool on the horizon, Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti kept the core of his regular team, although Arda Guler took the place of the injured Rodrygo, as he joined Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior in the front three.
Madrid were on the front foot in the early exchanges and had chances but the likes of Mbappe were not clinical.
Ancelotti's men only came close to going ahead midway into the first stanza after Guler had a curling shot that was parried away by goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.
Los Blancos gained momentum and Guler came close again eight minutes before the interval with a threatening set-piece that brought the best out of Dmitrovic.
Madrid eventually went ahead on the stroke of half-time after Mbappe had an easy tap-in from a cut-back by Vinicius Junior after the visitors pounced on a defensive error by Leganes.
The home side came back from the break fired up and had threatening attacks early in the second stanza but ultimately they could not trouble goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid only got going again around the hour-mark and on 66 minutes Federico Valverde doubled their lead with a clinical low drive from the edge of the box following a well executed set-piece routine.
With Leganes looking to get back into the game, Los Blancos set themselves up to attack on counter-attacks and with nine minutes to go, Mbappe had a glorious opportunity to seal the game after he raced through on goal but his blasting shot was bravely saved by Dmitrovic in a one-on-one.
However, the visitors were comfortable in the closing stages as Mbappe was rested and as he was replaced by Luka Modric.
Jude Bellingham eventually added the third goal for the Madrid outfit in the dying minutes with a close-range header from a rebound in the box, making it two goals in two games.
Los Blancos returned to second spot on the log, four points behind rivals and leaders Barcelona with a game in hand.
