Real Madrid beat Leganés thanks to refined BMV

A.Real Madrid extended in Butarque the good performances demonstrated against Osasuna and began to show the presumed potential. Present and future, with Camavinga in the middle and Ceballos at his side, the white team conceded two additional points to Barcelona by settling the dreaded BMV. Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinicius opened and closed Ancelotti's side's undisputed 0-3 victory against a willing Leganés. They held on for most of the first half, but had no choice.

In Leganés, the strongest Madrid was confirmed despite (or thanks to) Ancelotti's squad changes. For rotation or rest before the match against Liverpool, he moved the eleven and did things well. It wasn't a coincidence. He set up Madrid at Butarque with four off-ball midfielders and a 4-2-3-1 in attack, with Ceballos at the base alongside Camavinga, Arda on the right and Mbappé on the left.

In five minutes, Kylian had already tested Altimira twice. A complicated evening awaited him. La Lega joined forces with five in defense to resist early on and come out with their heads later. The plan was only half successful. He could have conceded the first in a dizzying run from Kylian, but he again anticipated the start and spoiled his goal with another offside. It's a La Liga record.

Madrid overcomes its first scare

Because Borja Jiménez's team minimized the damage from the start. With the parameters that earned them promotion, Lega is an orderly, selfless and versatile team, where even the most talented players work hard. Juan Cruz started as a right winger and, when the visitors' initial intensity waned, he moved to the right to look for a duel with Fran García. There he broke away to beat the full-back and Camavinga to pass to Munir, who shot against the crossbar. The offside was blatant.

Despite the shock, Madrid did not suffer in defense. With Raul Asencio stabilized, responding to the classic profile of an aggressive central defender. He went out to cross and returned early, with the lead. The return of Courtois, essential, and the sacrifice of Valverde, who accepts the task imposed on him as a good captain, also contributed to this newfound solidity. The fact is that the best players have started to appear. Like Arda Gúler, who has class to give. Dmitrovic saved a shot on goal after eluding Munir and Javi Hernandez. Also Bellingham, who enjoys like a little boy in midfield. He threw two exquisite balls to Vinicius which Dmitrovic, very attentive, had to dismiss.

Mbappé gives clarity to Madrid

But the match was already being played in Puebla's half, exposed to the possibility of a local error or an away goal that would tip the scales. Both happened. Altimira wanted to get the ball out, Camavinga pressed, Bellingham flew, Vinicius recovered and delivered the goal to Mbappé, coming from the left. The BMV is being developed in Butarque.

This goal gave Madrid the lead before and after the break. Without generating chances, that's true, but comfortably. Ceballos played in the middle, taking fewer risks than usual. It improves when contained. Mbappé changed position in the second act so that Vinicius frequented his favorite lane. In the center, the Brazilian comes up against more defenders. Sometimes he fakes it, like during a foul where he complained about his face when he was hit in the chest. And at other times, he is penalized by his fame. Like an Altimira knockdown in the box, there were more penalties than the 150 others that have been called this season. Alberola did not call him and the VAR did not warn him. Well, that's good.

Valverde debuts with superb goal

The League and Madrid assumed that the sentence was a matter of time. It came from a free kick, an indirect free kick that Ceballos touched, Güler stepped on it and Valverde crushed it in front of the post. First captaincy and 25th goal as a madridista. Well executed and poorly defended, with a rare and not very intense barrier. These concessions condemn a team which must do everything perfectly to give a response to the big teams in La Liga.

With these changes, the prospects have not improved for the Lega, which has only threatened to generate danger with the details of Juan Cruz and the criteria of Brasanac. On the other hand, Madrid were grateful for the substitutions. They were rare, as is the norm at the club. Brahim came on (in place of Güler, lest the Turk finish a match even if he shines) and was right to try to finish a corner pushed back in front. The rebound hit the crossbar and Bellingham took the lead in the third. Second consecutive goal for the Englishman.

Mbappé could have added to the score, but he failed to get a clinch shot off the stump. More or less the Frenchman, who was replaced. Modric and Endrick came on at the final whistle, but the score remained unchanged. BMV Madrid emerged strengthened from Butarque and looks forward to Anfield with confidence. There is still a long season to come.