Real Madrid beat Racing Santander 3-0 as Mbappe shrugs off turbulent week
Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 win at Racing Santander Sunday, keeping third-place Madrid within three points of La Liga leaders Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe opened scoring with an 11th-minute penalty — his 12th league goal this season — before Jude Bellingham netted his 50th goal for the club since 2023, and record signing Yan Diomande lashed home a third.
The win comes after a chaotic week for Mbappe. He narrowly lost the Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane on Monday, then apologized after a video surfaced of him joking about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Chinese state TV pulled the broadcast of this match in response, and Real Madrid issued a formal apology to China.
Under Jose Mourinho, Madrid have won six straight across all competitions. They sit three points behind Barcelona (who thrashed Alaves 6-1 Saturday) and one behind Atletico Madrid. Racing, back in La Liga after 14 years, suffered their first home defeat this season.
Bellingham's milestone goal and Mbappe's resilience after off-field drama suggest Madrid's attack is clicking at the right time. With El Clasico approaching next month, the title race is tightening.
Can Mourinho's Madrid sustain this form and turn a three-point deficit into a title challenge, or will Barcelona's firepower prove too much?