Kylian Mbappé Fires Real Madrid Level With Barca

Kylian Mbappé struck twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Leganés 3-2 on Saturday, pulling level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

- Agencies

BARCELONA:

Carlo Ancelotti’s side won an entertaining game at the Santiago Bernabéu to put pressure on their bitter rivals, who host Girona in a Catalan derby on Sunday.

Mbappé put Los Blancos ahead from the penalty spot but goals from Diego García and Dani Raba sent the relegation-battling minnows ahead before the break.

Jude Bellingham leveled for Madrid early in the second half before Mbappé whipped home a free-kick to claim three points for the champions.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are six clear of third-placed Atlético Madrid, who drew at Espanyol earlier Saturday.

“Mbappé is making the difference and that’s what we want from him,” said Madrid coach Ancelotti. The superstar’s brace took him to 33 goals for the season across all competitions in 44 games, equalling the tally Real Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo notched in the 2009-10 season, his first year at the club.

“It’s very special…to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good,” Mbappé told Real Madrid TV.