Kylian Mbappé's adaptation to Real Madrid is bearing fruit as he netted twice in their commanding 4-1 victory over Las Palmas at the Bernabéu on Sunday, helping Los Blancos extend their lead at the top of LaLiga.
Despite conceding within the first minute, Madrid demonstrated their resilience with a remarkable comeback. Mbappé equalized from the penalty spot before Brahim Díaz put Madrid ahead. The French striker then added a third, though he also had a goal disallowed for offside. Rodrygo completed the scoring in the second half, while both Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde saw their efforts ruled out by VAR.
The performance marked a significant turnaround for Mbappé, who faced criticism earlier in the season but has now accumulated 18 goals across all competitions, including four in his last three appearances. "I'm really happy," Mbappé told Real Madrid TV, responding to the Bernabéu crowd's chants. "I've adapted to the team now and I can play as I want, with my teammates, with personality. We're all enjoying it."
The victory proved particularly crucial as Madrid capitalized on their rivals' setbacks, with Atletico Madrid suffering a 1-0 defeat at Leganés and Barcelona managing only a 1-1 draw at Getafe. "We knew what had happened yesterday, with Atletico and Barcelona," Mbappé acknowledged. "We wanted to win, and we did. We started badly... but the reaction was 'top'. We were on the front foot, playing fast, attacking the spaces with quality."
The win also served as a strong response to their recent 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final and their extra-time struggle against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey. "Losing the Supercopa was tough," Mbappé reflected, "and although we played well in the cup, we made mistakes and went to extra time. But we had the personality to win."
Coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his team against recent criticism while praising Mbappé as "the best centre forward in the world." The Italian manager noted, "People doubted if he could play there. He's a great forward, who feels comfortable in the middle. His movement is unique, and playing inside, he can make the most of it."
The result puts Real Madrid two points clear at the summit of LaLiga, with Mbappé's adaptation to Spanish football appearing increasingly seamless as the season progresses.
