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Real Madrid took care of business with a 4-1 win over Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to top the table, two points clear of Atlético Madrid. A double from Kylian Mbappé, as well as a goal from Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo, were more than enough. Here are three quick observations:
Kylian Mbappé is really back
Even after a 5-2 defeat to the club’s biggest rivals, there was reason for optimism. Even in the midst of terror, everyone was looking for hope and found it: Batman had arrived.
One of the biggest talking points, and the only positive from that loss to Barcelona, was Kylian Mbappé’s definitive return to form. We saw it in snippets and flashes throughout the season, interspersed by unusual and unsure performances from the Frenchman, but seeing it all consistently is refreshing.
It’s good that each performance by Mbappé is better than the previous one, especially since the game against Barcelona. Great performance, followed by another good one against Celta de Vigo. Against Las Palmas, he looked more confident than in recent years, harkening back to his days at PSG ahead of his final season in the French capital.
Mbappé scored a nice penalty and, as he took it, he seemed much more confident than before getting on the bus back from Bilbao or before the flight back from Liverpool. He knew what he was doing and the second goal showed it exactly; A brilliant finish with the first touch that had no right to be as good as it was.
Mbappé did complete his hat-trick, but did not score the goal due to a questionable VAR decision. The bottom line is that Mbappé looked like Mbappé, even without the hat-trick. Mbappé also participated in the other two goals and continued to create danger out of nowhere, something he could not do in his first days at Madrid.
Refreshing.
Dani Ceballos continues to improve
Ceballos is enjoying his best season as a Real Madrid player (probably his best season as a footballer overall) and it comes at a time of desperate need.
Real Madrid did not have either Eduardo Camavinga or Aurelien Tchouameni in the squad, which made Carlo Ancelotti opt for a double pivot of Fede Valverde and Ceballos. It’s a combination that tends to be very good, and part of the reason is, a) how well Ceballos works with Valverde, and b) how well he works individually, especially now.
Ceballos has been in top form, producing products left, right and center without receiving much credit from the mainstream media. He has been one of the best midfielders in Spain, without a doubt the one who has improved the most, and that shows how necessary a profile like his is at Real Madrid.
Ceballos was great against Las Palmas: six interceptions, seven tackles, one block, 12/12 duels won and 79 passes with 92% accuracy. It was one of his best performances in a Madrid shirt and shows why Real Madrid need to keep him. He is the first midfielder this season to record six or more tackles and interceptions in a game this season. Ceballos has matured a lot this season, and a lot of that has to do with regular playing time and just knowing his craft.
David Alaba returns
This is not exactly a game observation, but rather something from the game that made me think about the future of Real Madrid this season.
Alaba, after 13 months of recovery on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Villarreal, finally returned to play a few minutes against Las Palmas, and immediately showed what he is good at.
He wasn’t involved in many defensive sequences, but it was nice to see his distribution, which, in important games, can be crucial for Real Madrid, especially with the retirement of Toni Kroos. In just a few minutes, he attempted long balls towards Mbappe, and while they may not have been accurate straight away, it’s a pattern that could be looked at further when he returns to full match fitness. Alaba could help a lot with press resistance, and its brilliant distribution is a key aspect of that.
Alaba also spent a few minutes on the left wing, suggesting that an idea is slowly brewing in Ancelotti’s head.
