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Real Madrid earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Leganés at Santiago Bernabéu on March 29, 2025, maintaining the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona. The match highlighted Real’s determination, with Kylian Mbappé’s two goals proving crucial. Mbappé started the scoring in the 32nd minute by converting a well-taken Panenka penalty. However, Leganés quickly equalized when Diego García found the net just a minute later. The visiting side then shocked the Bernabéu fans by taking the lead in the 41st minute with a goal from Dani Raba. After halftime, Real Madrid regrouped, and Jude Bellingham scored the equalizer just two minutes into the second half. The turning point came in the 76th minute when Mbappé scored with a spectacular free-kick, securing the win. This result puts Real Madrid level on points with Barcelona at 63, ramping up the competition for the La Liga title.
While the win was special for Real Madrid, it was particularly special for one player, which is Kylian Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe has matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal count in his first season with Real Madrid, netting 33 goals across all competitions. He reached this milestone by scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Leganes. Mbappe accomplished this in 45 matches, while Ronaldo achieved his tally in 35 games during the 2009-2010 season. Despite the difference in the number of matches played, Mbappe’s feat underscores his significant impact in his inaugural season at the club. Looking forward, Mbappe is just four goals away from tying the debut season record of 37 goals set by Iván Zamorano in the 1992-1993 season.
Looking back at Mbappe’s debut season:
Kylian Mbappé has made a stunning contribution in his debut season at Real Madrid, emerging as one of the most impactful players in La Liga and the world. As of March 30, 2025, the French striker has netted 33 goals in all competitions, matching Cristiano Ronaldo‘s debut season goal tally at the club. With a few games left to play, Mbappé stands a good chance of breaking the record. In La Liga, Mbappé has been prolific. He has scored 22 goals and registered 3 assists in 27 games, with an average of 0.81 goals per game. His regular performances have helped keep Real Madrid on equal points with the league leaders Barcelona, and hence the title fight is an interesting one.
Mbappé’s impact isn’t limited to domestic competitions. In the UEFA Champions League, he has scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists in 12 appearances, evidence of his capacity to excel on the biggest stage in Europe. Throughout the season, he has displayed his flexibility by scoring from open play, penalties, and free-kicks, with a spectacular brace in the recent 3-2 victory over Leganés. In spite of the stunning goal total, Mbappé’s play provides more than merely scoring. His movement, imagination, and interplay with players like Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr. have made Madrid’s attack one of the most lethal in Europe.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has also marveled at Mbappé’s professionalism and impact, citing his flexibility and leadership on the field. With Real Madrid also fighting for domestic and European titles, Mbappé’s performance may be the deciding factor in claiming silverware in his first season. As he keeps on sparkling, Mbappé is set to become one of the all-time greats at Real Madrid, justifying the huge expectations that accompanied his big–money transfer.
Ronaldo’s iconic debut at Real Madrid:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first season as a Real Madrid player in 2009-2010 was simply spectacular. After his then-world record €94 million move from Manchester United, the Portuguese striker announced himself with a performance that was full of goals, assists, and dazzling performances. In 35 games in all competitions, Ronaldo had 33 goals and 12 assists, with an average of 0.94 goals per match. His deadly finishing, mighty free-kicks, and energetic dribbling made him the centerpiece of Real Madrid’s offense.
At La Liga, Ronaldo appeared in 29 games, scoring 26 goals and contributing 7 assists. Even when he missed a few games due to injury, he was still able to score 0.9 goals per game, with some of his highlight performances being a four-goal outing against Racing Santander and a hat-trick against Mallorca.In the Champions League, Ronaldo was also prolific, scoring 7 times in 6 games, but Real Madrid were surprisingly knocked out by Lyon in the Round of 16. His impact in the Copa del Rey was minimal, as Madrid crashed out of the competition early. Despite Real Madrid coming second in La Liga to Barcelona and failing in Europe, Ronaldo’s personal brilliance was undeniable. His goal-scoring feats and all-round contribution were the building blocks for a Bernabéu legend.
by- Adit Waikul
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