Immediate reaction: Real Madrid 4-1 Las Palmas

After having a dramatic time in the cup competitions, Real Madrid were looking to reach the top of the league with a victory against Las Palmas at home. Madrid had the worst possible start to the game, as Las Palmas came out to exploit Lucas Vázquez’s obvious defensive weaknesses and did so by taking a 0-1 lead 20 seconds into the game. Salt suffered an injury when Brahim Díaz missed an opportunity to equalize in front of an open space from just one meter shortly after. The Bernabéu whistles started blowing already in the fifth minute of the game and the fans could hardly be blamed.

Kylian Mbappé pulled Real Madrid home from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, a goal that offered a glimmer of hope to a Bernabeu crowd that had collapsed. Madrid grew into the game and, as they did, so did he: going deeper, dictating the game, shaping the attacks. It was his movement, that instinctive burst into space, that led to the second: an accurate shot that forced a rebound, Brahim Díaz reacted to convert it. Then came the third, a pure goal from Mbappé: receiving the falling ball. , hitting him with an absurd technique on the half volley. The France captain was denied a first-half hat-trick due to a baffling offside decision in another unsurprising episode of LaLiga refereeing. Real Madrid went into the tunnel at half-time with a 3-1 lead.

Real Madrid’s fourth came from Rodrygo, a simple shot at the end of a play orchestrated by Mbappé and Fran García. It was the least he deserved. Up to that point, he had been sharp, intelligent and always involved, and his performance was worth the moment when the ball finally fell his way. Las Palmas’ Benito was sent off for a reckless kick on Lucas Vázquez around the hour mark to make matters worse for the visiting team.

David Alaba stepped onto the pitch for the first time in more than a year, greeted with warm applause from the Bernabéu, a moment that meant more than just minutes on the clock. However, the night did not end with its drama. Twice more, Real Madrid had the ball in the net, and two more, the referee disallowed them, the offside whistles were agonizingly close. In the final moments it was the turn of Endrick and Chema, the last two to join the action.

4-1 remained the FT’s score and, as expected, Kylian Mbappé was named MVP of the match. Real Madrid now has two points ahead of Atlético and seven points ahead of Barcelona to lead the LaLiga standings.