MADRID — Real Madrid climbed to the peak of the Spanish league standings, with Kylian Mbappé once again being the star of the match. The French forward netted two goals, helping his team to a convincing 4-1 victory over a diminished Las Palmas side that played a significant portion of the match with just ten players. This thrilling display was met with enthusiastic applause from fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, reinforcing Mbappé’s increasing adaptation to his new team, despite earlier challenges this season.
“It’s a dream to receive a standing ovation in this stadium,” Mbappé expressed. “I’m really pleased, as I’ve acclimated well to this team and can play freely. Everyone enjoys the collective effort of the team. Every player at Real Madrid is a leader because it’s the most prestigious club. We need to maintain unity, as we aim to achieve numerous trophies. Winning is an obligation at Real Madrid.”
With his latest performance, Mbappé has recorded four goals over the past four games. Alongside him, Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo also found the net, enabling Madrid to overtake cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of the table midway through the league season. Currently, Madrid holds a two-point advantage over Atletico, which saw its remarkable 15-game winning streak come to an end with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Leganés. Additionally, Madrid has established a seven-point gap ahead of third-place Barcelona, who managed a 1-1 tie against Getafe.
“It was essential for us to secure a win today,” Mbappé stated. “We acknowledged the outcomes of Atletico’s loss and Barcelona’s draw yesterday, which motivated us to strive for victory. Although we started poorly by conceding an early goal, the team responded exceptionally well. We searched for spaces and played quickly and with finesse.”
This match marked Madrid’s second consecutive win following a disappointing 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia on January 12.
After Rodrygo was fouled, Mbappé converted a penalty kick in the 18th minute, equalizing for Madrid after they had gone behind just a minute into the game due to a goal from Fábio Silva. Díaz scored the go-ahead goal in the 33rd minute, and Mbappé added his second in the 36th from a Rodrygo assist. Rodrygo himself scored in the 57th minute, marking his third goal in as many matches.
Mbappé narrowly missed out on a hat trick just before the halftime whistle when a goal was ruled offside, and he also struck the crossbar during stoppage time of the first half. Jude Bellingham had a goal canceled after a video review in the latter part of the match.
“Mbappé’s exceptional form is greatly benefiting us,” commented Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “Our performance today was impressive. We achieved the right balance to navigate both the stellar moments and the challenges.”
Las Palmas, currently in 14th position and facing a three-game losing streak across competitions, had player Benito Ramírez red-carded in the 64th minute for a dangerous high kick. Although he initially received a yellow card, video analysis revealed the foul warranted a red card.
Defender David Alaba made a welcomed return in the 77th minute after a prolonged absence due to a knee injury, having last played in December 2023. Madrid was also without forward Vinícius Júnior due to a suspension.
In other news, Florentino Pérez was elected unopposed as the president of Real Madrid, ensuring his leadership of the club until 2029.
In matches earlier in the day, Athletic Bilbao, in fourth place, secured a 2-1 victory over 13th-placed Celta Vigo, while ninth-placed Rayo Vallecano managed a 1-1 draw against Osasuna, who sit in 10th position. Furthermore, Valencia climbed out of the bottom of the league by earning their first league win since November, besting Real Sociedad 1-0 at home.
