Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham find the net as Real Madrid narrows the distance to Barcelona.

**Real Madrid Surge to Second Place with Dominant Win Over Leganes**

In a commanding display at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory against CD Leganes on Sunday night. This impressive win propelled them into second place in La Liga. Kylian Mbappe was the star of the show, opening the scoring and showcasing signs of his growing partnership with Vinicius Jr.

The match came on the heels of Barcelona’s unexpected 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, providing Carlo Ancelotti’s side with the perfect opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table. With a chance to capitalize, Ancelotti once again fielded a formidable trio of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappe.

After a frustrating first half, it was Vinicius who broke the deadlock. He deftly set up Mbappe to slot home at the far post. The Brazilian’s vision and timing were impeccable, allowing the Frenchman to find the net and give Real Madrid the lead just before half-time.

The second half saw Federico Valverde extend the advantage with a well-executed free kick, striking a fierce shot that left the Leganes goalkeeper with no chance. As the match drew to a close, Bellingham added a third, nodding into an empty net after a chaotic sequence in the box.

This victory not only sees Real Madrid leapfrog Atletico Madrid into second place but also sets them up nicely for the remainder of the season. Should they win their game in hand, they would find themselves just a point behind league leaders Barcelona.

**A Flourishing Partnership: Mbappe and Vinicius**

One of the key talking points from the match was the blossoming relationship between Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. While the two forwards have yet to fully synchronize their play, there were promising signs at Butarque. As they began to understand each other’s movements, with Bellingham acting as a false nine to create space, the duo linked up effectively for the opening goal.

For Real Madrid to mount a serious title challenge this season, the development of this partnership will be crucial. The chemistry between Mbappe and Vinicius could prove to be the difference in tight matches ahead.

**Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappe**

Mbappe’s performance was a standout, as he not only scored the first goal but also had another effort disallowed for offside. His body language suggested a player regaining confidence, and while he has yet to hit his peak in Spain, the signs of a return to form are evident.

**Player Ratings**

*Leganes:* Dmitrovic 7, Altimira 6, Sergio 6, Darko 6, Nastasic 6, Tapia 5, Hernandez 5, Neyou 5, Munir 6, Cruz 5, De La Fuente 6. Subs: Raba 6, Rosier 6, Haller 6, Chicco 6, Naim 6.

*Real Madrid:* Courtois 6, Valverde 7, Asencio 6, Rudiger 6, Garcia 6, Guler 7, Camavinga 6, Ceballos 6, Bellingham 7, Vinicius Jr. 7, Mbappe 7. Subs: Modric 6, Endrick 6, Brahim 7.

**Key Events**

– **10’ – GOAL! NO! MBAPPE IS OFFSIDE**: The Frenchman looked to have broken through the offside trap, but a VAR review showed he was marginally offside, disallowing his smart finish.

– **43’ – GOAL! LEGANES 0-1 REAL MADRID**: Mbappe scores! Vinicius bursts into the box and slides the ball across for Mbappe to slot home at the back post.

– **66’ – GOAL! LEGANES 0-2 REAL MADRID**: Valverde scores with a powerful low shot from the edge of the box following a well-worked free kick.

– **74’ – DMITROVIC SAVE**: Guler is slipped in by Vinicius and fires a low shot, but the Leganes keeper makes a fine stop.

– **83’ – MBAPPE CHANCE**: Through on goal again, Mbappe fires a rising shot that Dmitrovic expertly beats away.

– **85’ – GOAL! LEGANES 0-3 REAL MADRID**: Bellingham heads into an empty net after a corner is not properly cleared, sealing a comprehensive victory for the visitors.

With this performance, Real Madrid have sent a clear message to their rivals: they are ready to challenge for the title.