Real Madrid responded to lingering doubts after needing extra time to beat Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey on Thursday with a dramatic 4-1 victory over Las Palmas that put them top of La Liga for the first time this season. season.
Los Blancos conceded without even touching the ball in the first minute — after another opposition move based on a cross behind — and captain Lucas Vazquez was again whistled but ended up receiving a standing ovation when he was substituted by Carlo Ancelotti in the 87th minute.
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Kylian Mbappé’s performance in the first half and a good performance by Dani Ceballos paved the way for Real Madrid to move two points ahead of Atlético de Madrid, who lost 1-0 in Leganés, and seven points ahead of BarcelonaArray. David Alaba’s back, 399 days after his serious knee injury.
Mario Cortegana analyzes the main topics of discussion. . .
Few can now doubt that Mbappe is, if not at his best, then very close to it.
After the attack against Athletic Club in early December, the player himself later admitted that he had “hit rock bottom. ” But all that evaporated, and Sunday was another demonstration of his influence with two goals and more.
Since that match on December 4, Mbappé has participated in nine goals (eight scored plus one assist) in nine appearances, an average of one goal each and every 74. 5 minutes.
“He is evil. “It has been a long time since I have seen a player make such a difference compared to the others,” said Ceballos in the combined area after the game.
With his team losing 1-0, Mbappé took the penalty won by Rodrygo. He suffered a lot from his mistakes at Anfield and Bilbao, and a lot was expected of him, especially without the injured Vinicius Junior, who was suspended. Mbappé rose to the occasion, immediately recovering the ball, scoring and then hitting it out of the net to lead the comeback.
Ancelotti explained afterwards that, with everyone available, the Frenchman will be the second penalty taker behind Vinicius Jr and ahead of Jude Bellingham.
Against Las Palmas, Mbappe did not stop. The second goal came from a shot by him and he then made it 3-1, taking advantage of a pass from Rodrygo. The look on the faces of Ancelotti and his staff on the bench spoke volumes; they have been saying in private in the last few weeks that if Mbappe is playing like this, their chances of winning the league are very high.
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Before half-time, Mbappe scored what would have been his first hat-trick for the club, but it was disallowed by the VAR for offside. Mbappe was angered to the point of encouraging complaints from the Bernabeu, who chanted the now-traditional, “Corruption in the federation!”. Two more goals were later disallowed, too.
Mbappe also started the game for Madrid’s fourth goal and nearly helped Bellingham with the outside of his boot, only to get in the way when both tried to push a ball into the net (and laugh as they followed).
Mbappe now has 12 goals in his first 18 La Liga games, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 15 in the same period in 2009.
“Is he the most productive player in the world? The most productive center forward in the world,” Ancelotti said. “People doubted that he could play simply as the number nine and said it was better to put him on the left. . . »
What they were like, apparently.
Ceballos went from asking to go out twice last summer to enjoying what his loved ones consider his greatest fun in Madrid.
That is why he responded to the continuous rumors that linked him to Real Betis, the team of his formative years and his heart, insisting that he will finish the season with the white team.
Last season he played 892 minutes and this season he has already played 912, starting, adding seven since December.
Ceballos was yesterday: he created 3 opportunities, five tackles won, a defensive block, six interceptions, 10 recoveries and failed only six of 72 passes.
The Bernabéu chanted his shout twice in a row and a third time, with the audience on their feet, when Ancelotti replaced him.
“Today is a typical game in which everything you do goes well,” he said afterwards. “I thank the fans for noticing me. “
Ceballos also praised his coach when asked about the criticism of Ancelotti: “Well, he is the coach with the highest titles in the history of Real Madrid. “
Alaba injured his anterior cruciate ligament on 17 December, 2023 against Villarreal. Thirteen months, surgery and an unscheduled arthroscopy later, he felt like a footballer again yesterday.
The plan for him to play if Real Madrid wins and the game is under control.
As Ancelotti announced yesterday, the plan is for David Alaba to play a few minutes at the end of the game if Real Madrid wins and the game is under control. @TheAthleticFC https://t. co/VobrJbWEth
– Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) January 19, 2025
So it was no surprise that there was a growing murmur in the stadium in the 58th minute, as fans began to realise that the Austrian was starting to warm up. In the 76th minute, after receiving instructions and affection from the staff and his team-mates, Alaba was back on a football pitch.
He pointed to the sky, Fede Valverde came over to give him love even before he came on, Ceballos gave him a high five and Bellingham, like Raul Asencio, walked over to support him.
After the game, Ancelotti jumped directly onto the pitch to meet with the centre-back. Bellingham kissed him with a heartfelt hug.
“Welcome back my brother @davidalaba !!!! After more than a year we’ve missed you so much, your positivity every single day despite the pain and adversity you’ve faced has been unbelievable to see, you deserve this,” wrote the Englishman on Instagram afterwards.
After taking a lap of honour to thank the Bernabéu, Alaba headed towards the tunnel, where the coaches and physiotherapists who played a key role in his complicated convalescence were waiting for him.
– Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) January 19, 2025
Once inside, he surrounded everyone, adding Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao and the club’s president, Florentino Pérez.
(Top photo: Guillermo Martinez)