Since leaving PSG to join Real Madrid , Kylian Mbappe has always been the default striker. He replaced his former senior in the French national team – Karim Benzema – as “number 9”. Coach Carlo Ancelotti was quite conservative, when he was determined not to experiment with Mbappe on the left flank of the attack. Because there, Real Madrid already had Vinicius Jr playing too well.

Playing as a striker, Mbappe still scores. Before the match against Leganes, the French star had scored 6 goals in La Liga this season.

But that number is not enough to meet the expectations of those who love the capital team of Madrid. In the role of “number 9”, Mbappe not only fell behind himself, but also dragged down the decline of his partner Vinicius Jr because the two often lost connection on the field.

The match at Leganes was a turning point, marking a change in coach Ancelotti’s thinking. For the first time in the 2024/25 season, the Italian strategist returned Mbappe to the left wing, which is very familiar to the French star at both PSG and the French national team.

Vini swapped places with Mbappe, moving to the highest position in Real Madrid’s attack – a position where he was tested by Carletto last season and made a strong impression. This adjustment immediately took effect.

Playing as a left-sided striker, Mbappe was like a fish released back into the water. He exploded on the Leganes field and continuously fired shots to threaten the opponent’s goal.

Post-match statistics showed that the French player had a total of 5 “shooting” phases on the opponent’s goal. Of these, 3 times the ball hit the goal and one of those situations was converted by Mbappe into the opening goal for Real Madrid in the final minutes of the first half.

Mbappe’s goal deserves special attention. Because the person who directly assisted the French star was none other than Vinicius Jr. In a situation where he was alone in the opponent’s penalty area and facing goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, the Brazilian star could have completely fired a shot to score a goal for himself.

But he showed great teamwork when he chose to pass the ball to Mbappe to handle in a more open situation.

That can also be seen as Vinicius Jr. ‘s way of repaying Mbappe – who has always affirmed that he “has a very good relationship with Vini”. On the Burtaque field, not only did he actively shoot, but the former PSG star also moved constantly, with a very wide range of activities.

The purpose was to both find a connection with Vinicius Jr. and to give his Brazilian teammate space to comfortably launch threats against the opponent’s goal.