Real Madrid 3 - 2 Leganes (Mbappe x2, Bellingham; Garcia, Raba). Here’s our quick reaction at the final whistle. Still to come: Player ratings, post-game podcast, post-game quotes, and much more analysis.
Real Madrid pulled off yet another narrow victory, defeating Leganes 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu despite a lackluster performance. With Carlo Ancelotti opting to rotate his squad heavily, the absence of key South American internationals like Fede Valverde, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo Goes was evident, especially in the first half.
Ancelotti handed Arda Güler a rare start, but Real Madrid’s defense struggled without the presence of Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot, only for Leganes to respond almost immediately with an equalizer. The visitors then took the lead before halftime, capitalizing on Real Madrid’s sluggish defensive transitions and poor positioning.
A lot wrong here but also Brahim who initially lost it had the opportunity to track the goalscorer and make up for it but jogged backpic.twitter.com/mYbqCyLqk1
— Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) March 29, 2025
Despite the first-half frustrations, Jude Bellingham wasted no time after the break, scoring within two minutes to bring Real Madrid level. Mbappe completed the comeback with a well-taken free-kick, sealing the win and securing a crucial three points.
While the victory is vital, the performance left much to be desired. Real Madrid’s tendency to concede goals and look vulnerable remains a concern. Leganes had plenty of opportunities to equalize late, but couldn’t take advantage of Real Madrid’s poor defensive structure.
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