Real Madrid made it three Champions League wins from three by beating RB Leipzig 4-1 on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande among the scorers for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Bernardo Silva gave Madrid the lead late in a tight first half, reacting quickest after Arda Guler’s effort was blocked. Guler then added a second shortly after the interval, before Mbappe curled in Madrid’s third.
Tidiam Gomis pulled one back for Leipzig, but Diomande restored Madrid’s three-goal advantage with a powerful volley into the top corner.
“We know every point is important to get into the top eight, we know we have to win as many games as possible — we’ve won three and there are five to go,” Mbappe told Movistar.
The France attacker, who hopes to win the Ballon d’Or next week, has scored in all three of Madrid’s Champions League matches this season and now has 12 goals in 12 games.
“I’m doing well (but) I think I can do more,” said Mbappe.
“I’m one of the few players who always has to demand more from himself… right now it’s a good moment, but we have to keep going and I have to do more.”
The result was Madrid’s fourth successive win in all competitions and strengthens their position ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga Clasico against Barcelona.
Madrid have not won a major trophy for two seasons and made an uncertain start domestically, but they retain a perfect record in the Champions League league phase. Barcelona do not, having lost at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
“For a Clasico, confidence doesn’t exist,” Mourinho told Movistar.
“It’s one more league game, but it’s not a game like the others. We’re losing 24 hours of rest (compared to Barca).”
With Vinicius serving a four-match La Liga suspension, Mourinho started him on the left but left former Leipzig winger Diomande on the bench.
Leipzig had the first clear opportunity, but Thibaut Courtois made an excellent low save from Romulo Cardoso. Vinicius then forced Maarten Vandevoordt into a full-stretch stop.
Madrid eventually took control late in the first half. Federico Valverde cut the ball back for Guler, whose shot was kept out by Vandevoordt, but Silva followed up to score his first goal for the club.
Guler made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, holding off a defender before turning in Mbappe’s header across goal from Jude Bellingham’s cross.
Diomande replaced Vinicius with 20 minutes remaining, leaving the Brazilian looking downcast on the substitutes’ bench. He cannot play again until November 4, when Madrid visit AEK Athens.
“I think it’s good that he’s sad, because it means he wants to give a lot to the team, to the fans,” Mbappe said.
“I think he just needs to stay calm, he needs to be calm, proud of who he is, because a great player must always be proud of what he is, and keep his confidence, because the quality is there.”
Mourinho said he was satisfied with Vinicius’ performance.
“I don’t want to say he’s sad, because that’s a feeling only he can say if he has, but his coach is happy,” he said.
Madrid’s record 140 million euro ($157m) signing Diomande then set up Mbappe on the edge of the box, with the France attacker bending the ball into the net.
Leipzig responded quickly when Dean Huijsen lost concentration, allowing Gomis to beat Courtois, but Diomande completed the scoring with his third goal in his last four appearances, volleying Brahim Diaz’s cross into the top corner.
