Real Madrid v RB Leipzig
Play By Play
Full-time at the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid tee up an El Clasico weekend with a 4-1 dismantling of RB Leipzig. It took a while to get going, but Bernardo Silva's 43rd-minute opener from close range was as valuable as any, giving the seasoned Portuguese midfielder his first in Madrid white. The scoring continued shortly after the interval, as in the 52nd minute, Mbappe headed a left-sided lofted Bellingham ball back across for Guler to stab in on the line. Following a plethora of changes that threatened to take the sting out of this already steadily-slowing game, Mbappe curled in a peach in the 83rd minute to spark a late flurry of strikes. A charging Baumgartner fed Gomis to see the 20-year-old power in a consolation for the Germans, yet they were victims of a familiar foe not long after. Diomande had emerged from the bench earlier and offered a simple assist for Mbappe's shaped strike. Now he continued to show exactly why Los Blancos shelled out €140 million for his services with a world-class rocket of a volley into the top-left corner. Mourinho's Madrid excelled above their 2.91 xG as they move to fourth as one of five teams holding a faultless European scorecard so far. Leipzig at least got a consolation, yet despite this, they underperformed their 1.44 xG, while also shipping four more goals to make it 10 conceded in two games. They slip down to 29th in the table. Thanks for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed the game!
FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 4-1 RB LEIPZIG
Espi just can't get on the end of an Endrick cross. Vandevoordt does well to stretch and claim at the young Spaniard's feet.
There'll be a minimum of three minutes of added time.
Espi! That's close! The substitute fires into the right side netting from that flank, and Mbappe must be thinking that he would've scored that.
Another big-hitter in Bellingham is next to depart. On comes Endrick.
Mbappe's night is over. On comes Carlos Espi for the closing stages.
What a goal from Diomande. Diaz has to get credit for seeing him unmarked in the area and hanging up a superb cross, but that strike really is a special one.
GOOAAALLLL! 4-1! THAT'S WHY MADRID SPENT €140 MILLION ON DIOMANDE! WHAT A GOAL! Diaz floats an inviting ball to the Ivorian on the left of the area, and he THUMPS it into the top-left corner before countering the strike with the humblest of excited celebrations against his old team!
That was a nicely worked goal. Baumgartner did really well to pick out his fellow substitute. Is it enough to stir the most dramatic of comebacks? We fear it's all too late.
GOOAAALLLL! 3-1! GOMIS! While one Frenchman scores at one end, another grabs a goal at the other! The 20-year-old is found by Baumgartner and is seriously composed to side-foot past a floundering Courtois!
Nice moment for Diomande, picking up an albeit routine assist against his old side. They all count.
GOOAAALLLL! 3-0! ANOTHER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOAL FOR MBAPPE! The French striker grabs his third of the competition with a lovely, bending effort into the top-right corner! Diomande finds the number 10, and Vandevoordt has no chance with the beautifully whipped strike!
If you offered either manager the chance to blow the whistle now, you feel they'd take it. The game has really slowed down late on in this second half.
So far, Madrid are joining Betis, Aston Villa, PSG, and Liverpool in clubs going three-for-three. Villa, in fact, find themselves at the top of the table at the time of writing.
After yet another fine performance, Guler is the next to be replaced. Brahim Diaz comes on for some minutes.
The flurry of changes continues now, as Nkunku heads off for Christoph Baumgartner. He must be wondering how this clash might be different had he scored that big chance in the first half.
Bellingham tries to send a cutting ball into the left channel for Cucurella to chase, but the left-back is offside.
Following a Finkgrafe free-kick rebounds back to him, the substitute pelts an effort through the bodies that Courtois does well to hold on to.
One of few bright spots, Nusa is the next to come off. He is replaced by 20-year-old Tidiam Gomis.
The first of the latest double sees captain Raum replaced by Max Finkgrafe.
Diomande's first act in this game is to win a corner on the left. However, before this is taken, we'll have more Leipzig changes.
Mirroring the change from the Sevilla match, Carreras is off for Marc Cucurella after his booking.
Up goes the substitute board again now, and Vinicius makes way for former Leipzig man Yan Diomande. He spent one season in Germany, scoring 12 goals and tallying eight assists as he turned heads all across the continent. Now he has the chance to inflict further damage on his former, well-loved employers.
Substitute Reitz is the next player in Kovacz's book, after a sliding tackle on Camavinga doesn't get enough of the ball for the Romanian official's liking.
