Kylian Mbappe scored twice to help Real Madrid outgun a feisty Leganes 3-2 and pull level with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, while Atletico Madrid fell further behind in the title race.
The match between the defending champions and a team trying to stave off relegation was billed as an easy three points for Madrid. It was anything but as Leganes showed much more bite than expected at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After Mbappe put Madrid ahead from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute, Leganes stunned the home crowd by hitting right back after the restart. Left-back Valentin Rosier sprinted clear on the right flank and crossed for Oscar Rodríguez, whose poorly-hit shot was pushed home by Diego Garcia.
The minnow from southern Madrid did it again in the 41st. This time, Rosier stole the ball from Brahim Diaz and raced down the centre of the pitch before he played Rodríguez clear, who squared the ball for Dani Raba to take the lead.
Even though Leganes continued to threaten a third goal, Madrid capitalised on its chances in the second half to turn it around.
Jude Bellingham equalised when he rushed in to finish off a rebound. Mbappe made it a brace from a free kick, slicing the ball around the barrier and just inside the post after a rigorous foul call that was protested by Leganes.
Mbappe has 22 goals in LaLiga, only one fewer than Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona can re-establish its three-point lead when they host Girona on Sunday.
Atletico’s 1-1 draw at Espanyol left it six points behind the frontrunners with nine rounds left after this weekend.
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