Real Madrid extended their perfect record in the Champions League on Wednesday, cruising to a commanding 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig. Jose Mourinho’s side has now claimed three wins from three matches, providing a timely morale boost ahead of this Sunday’s La Liga Clasico against rival Barcelona.
The match began with Leipzig showing early promise, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into a crucial low save to deny Romulo Cardoso. Madrid eventually settled, and they broke the deadlock just before halftime when Bernardo Silva—scoring his first goal for the club—pounced on a rebound after Maarten Vandevoordt blocked an initial effort from Federico Valverde. With Arda Guler doubling the advantage of the record 15-time European champions soon after the interval, bernardo Silva opened the scoring for Madrid from close range late in a tight first half. Vinicius, who improved on a poor showing at Roma last week without breaking out of his rut, drew a full-stretch save from Leipzig’s Maarten Vandevoordt. However, the goalkeeper could not clear it, and Silva darted in to prod over the line.
Early in the second half, the hosts extended their lead.
In the 52nd minute, Jude Bellingham found Kylian Mbappe at the back post; Mbappe headed the ball across the face of the goal, allowing Arda Guler to hold off a defender and convert. Guler’s strike followed an earlier flurry of attempts, including a fierce effort from Valverde that required another sharp save from the Leipzig keeper.
Mourinho utilized his bench in the final 20 minutes, introducing Yan Diomande in place of Vinicius. The Brazilian forward appeared visibly frustrated as he headed to the bench, aware that a four-match domestic ban keeps him sidelined from La Liga action until the November 4 trip to AEK Athens.
The substitutions proved effective when Diomande, a 140 million-euro ($157m) signing, set up the third goal. He cut the ball back to the edge of the area, where Mbappe curled a precise finish into the net. Although Leipzig managed a brief response moments later when Dean Huijsen allowed Tidiam Gomis to strike past Courtois, the deficit was short-lived.
Diomande capped off the performance in emphatic fashion. Deep in the closing stages, he connected with a cross from Brahim Diaz, smashing a volley into the top corner. This marked Diomande’s third goal in his last four appearances, rounding off a comprehensive result that maintains Madrid’s flawless European standing.
Despite struggling to find consistency in domestic play over the last two seasons, Real Madrid’s European form remains a bright spot. While rivals like Barcelona are currently navigating setbacks, such as their recent loss to Paris Saint-Germain, Madrid continues to solidify their position at the top of the standings. Without a major trophy in two seasons and after a shaky domestic start, Madrid can at least boast a perfect record in Europe, unlike Barca after their defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The tactical setup saw Federico Valverde deployed at right-back for the second consecutive match, following his successful role in Sunday’s victory against Sevilla. Meanwhile, Mourinho’s midfield adjustments, including the inclusion of Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga, provided the necessary balance to keep the visiting defense under constant pressure throughout the evening.
