Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the Champions League league phase with a convincing 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The hosts controlled large periods of the contest and converted their chances clinically to maintain an unblemished record in the competition so far this season.
Both teams created openings in a lively first half but didn’t find the net until late on. Leipzig threatened early when Rômulo Cardoso raced through on goal, but Dean Huijsen recovered superbly and cut out the danger.
Antonio Nusa looked particularly dangerous on the left flank for the visitors, repeatedly causing problems.
Rômulo twice went close again, forcing Thibaut Courtois into important low saves. At the other end, Real Madrid produced several opportunities of their own.
Bernardo Silva failed to make clean contact with an Arda Güler cross from close range; Güler delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal that no teammate could convert; and Kylian Mbappé’s effort from a good position was neither decisive nor accurate.
Vinícius Júnior also forced a save after driving at the Leipzig defense.
Two minutes before the interval, the deadlock was finally broken. After neat interplay involving Mbappé, Federico Valverde and Güler, goalkeeper Maarten Vandervoordt spilled the young Turk’s shot, allowing Silva to tap home the rebound for his first goal in a Real Madrid shirt.
Early in the second half, Real doubled their advantage. Jude Bellingham clipped a cross to the far post, Mbappé rose highest to nod the ball down, and Güler finished from barely a yard out.
Chances kept coming at both ends before Mbappé added a third with a superb curling strike from the edge of the area that nestled in the top corner.
Tidiam Gomis pulled one back for Leipzig following a rapid counter-attack, but Yan Diomande restored the three-goal cushion with a ferocious volley into the top corner.
The 4-1 result keeps Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign flawless and provides valuable momentum ahead of the crucial El Clásico against Barcelona on Sunday.
