Real Madrid took care of business in a 4-1 win over Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to go top of the table, two points above Atletico Madrid. A brace from Kylian Mbappe, added to by a goal each from Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo proved more than enough. Here are three quick observations:
Kylian Mbappe is well and truly back
Even after a 5-2 loss to the club’s biggest rivals, there was a reason for optimism. Even amidst the terror, everyone was looking for hope, and they found it: Batman had arrived.
One of the biggest talking points, and the only positive from that loss to Barcelona was the definite return to form for Kylian Mbappe. We saw it in bits and flashes all season, sandwiched by underconfident, uncharacteristic performances from the Frenchman, but to see it all consistently is refreshing.
It is good to have each Mbappe performance be better than the last, especially since the Barcelona game. A great performance, followed by another good one against Celta Vigo. Against Las Palmas, he looked more confident than he has in the last couple of years or so — dating back to his PSG days before his last season in the French capital.
Mbappe scored a nice penalty, and while taking it, he looked much more confident than before he got on the bus back from Bilbao, or before the flight back from Liverpool. He knew what he was doing, and the second goal showed exactly that; a brilliant, first-touch finish that had no right to be as good as it was.
Mbappe did complete his hat-trick, but did not get the goal due to a questionable decision by VAR. The bottom line is that Mbappe looked like Mbappe, even without the hat-trick. Mbappe was involved in the other two goals too, and kept creating danger out of thin air — something he was not able to do in his early Madrid days.
Refreshing.
Dani Ceballos keeps on improving
Ceballos is enjoying his best season as a Real Madrid player — probably his best season as a football player in general — and it comes at a time of desperate need.
Real Madrid had neither Eduardo Camavinga nor Aurelien Tchouameni in the squad, which made Carlo Ancelotti go for a double pivot of Fede Valverde and Ceballos. It is a combination that is usually very good, and part of the reason is, a) how well Ceballos works with Valverde, and b) how well he works individually, especially right now.
Ceballos has been in red-hot form, producing goods left right and centre without getting a lot of credit from mainstream media. He has been one of the best midfielders in Spain, certainly the most improved, and it shows how much a profile like his is needed 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-ever performances in a Madrid shirt, and it just shows why Real Madrid need to keep him around. He is the first midfielder this season to record six or more tackles as well as interceptions in one game this season. Ceballos has matured a lot this season, and a lot of that has to do with regular game time and just knowing your craft.
David Alaba returns
This one is not exactly an observation from the game, but something from the game that made me think of Real Madrid’s future this season.
Alaba, after 13 months of recovery on the sidelines due to an ACL injury against Villarreal, finally returned for a few minutes against Las Palmas, and immediately showed everyone what he is good at.
He was not involved in many defensive sequences, but it was nice to see his distribution, which, in big games, could be crucial for Real Madrid, especially with Toni Kroos’ retirement. In just a few minutes, he tried long balls towards Mbappe, and while they may not have been pinpoint right away, it is a blueprint that could be looked at more when he returns to full match fitness. Alaba could help a lot with press resistance, and his brilliant distribution is one key aspect of it.
Alaba also spent a few minutes on the left flank, which suggests an idea is slowly brewing in Ancelotti’s head.