🇪🇸 Mbappé brace leads Real Madrid in comfortable win over Las Palmas

Real Madrid have moved top of LaLiga on Sunday following a 4-1 victory over 10-man Las Palmas.

Scorers: Mbappé (pen) 18', 36', Díaz 33', Rodrygo 57'; Silva 1'. Red: Benito 63'

It was end-to-end action right from the start in the Spanish capital as Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked to continue their return to form after their Supercopa de España humbling at the hands of bitter rivals Barcelona and build on their recent 5-2 win over Celta Vigo.

But Diego Martínez’s visiting Los Amarillos outfit were the ones to get proceedings up and running in just 30 seconds when Fábio Silva scored from close range to give Las Palmas an early shock lead.

Real Madrid looked to respond quickly and nearly had done two minutes later through Moroccan international Brahim Díaz, but the winger instead produced arguably the miss of the season when he bafflingly put his effort wide from inside six yards with the goal gaping.

Star striker Kylian Mbappé did set the record straight in the 18th minute when he calmly converted his effort from the penalty spot after Rodrygo was brought down in the box.

Díaz made amends for his earlier miss in the 33rd minute when he tapped home from a similar range after Lucas Vasquez squared a ball across goal after Jasper Cillessen initially parried Mbappé’s effort into the path of the Spanish forward.

Mbappé would complete his brace when he guided a first-time effort into the roof of the net from inside the box to put the home side out of sight just three minutes later.

Goalscoring service then resumed in the second half thanks to Rodrygo after the Brazilian did well to slot home in the 57th minute after Fran García found the winger with his cutback into the box.

Las Palmas defender Benito was sent off seven minutes later to compound a painful night away from home for Martínez’s men before Jude Bellingham eventually added a fifth on the night in the 74th minute to well and truly complete the demolition job.

In what was perhaps the most fitting way to bookend proceedings, returning star left-back David Alaba received a standing ovation from the home crowd after making his return to action from the substitutes bench for the first time in a year after a long-term injury lay-off.

This result sees Real Madrid take control of the table and could have the last laugh over Barcelona come the end of the season should their run of form continue.

📸 JAVIER SORIANO - AFP or Licensors