‘Special’ to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid goal record, says Kylian Mbappe

MADRID – Striker Kylian Mbappe said it was special to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut Real Madrid season tally of 33 goals, after netting a brace in the 3-2 home win over Leganes on March 29.

The Frenchman’s double took him to 33 strikes in 44 appearances across all competitions, the same number of goals as his idol managed in the 2009-10 campaign.

Ronaldo, who joined from Manchester United, went on to become Real’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals.

“It’s very special... to have the same number of goals as Cristiano is always good,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV. “We know what he means for Real Madrid and me.

“We speak, he gives me a lot of advice, he scored many goals – but we have to win trophies here.”

The hosts made a dominant start and opened the scoring after 32 minutes when Mbappe coolly chipped in a Panenka penalty, awarded after Oscar Rodriguez brought down Arda Guler.

However, Leganes responded almost immediately as Diego Garcia tapped in a loose ball at the far post to equalise the following minute, before Rodriguez set up Dani Raba to slot past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin in the 41st.

Real midfielder Jude Bellingham brought the scores level two minutes after the break, sliding the ball in after a rebound off the crossbar.

Mbappe then bagged the winner with a brilliant curled free kick in the 76th minute for his second.

The win took Real level with leaders Barcelona at the top of the table on 63 points, before the Catalan side face Girona on March 30.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Mbappe’s display, with the forward in sparkling form after an inconsistent start following his move from Paris Saint-Germain.

“He’s doing very well, he’s a lot more active and present in (the team’s) play. He’s making the difference and that’s what we want from him,” the Italian told reporters.

Ancelotti had suggested Mbappe could live up to Ronaldo’s legacy at Real, but only with a lot of hard work.

“He has the quality to reach his numbers, but he has to work, because Cristiano set the bar very high, but he is so excited to play here, he can reach Cristiano’s level,” said Ancelotti in February, after Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Manchester City.

The Italian acknowledged that his side lacked balance and struggled to take control against lowly Leganes but praised their intensity in fighting back.

He said: “I don’t think we played a bad game. We had control, but what we lacked was balance, which is why we conceded two goals.”

“They hurt us on the counter and, losing possession, we suffered. We could have managed the lead better. With the 3-2 scoreline, we also struggled, but that’s how it is after the international break. It takes time to find our rhythm.

Despite the loss, Garcia insisted: “We have done a tremendous job. We leave with our heads held high because we were fighting until the end... Ultimately, it was down to the details that they took it.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s slim Spanish title hopes faded further with a disappointing draw at Espanyol.

Javi Puado earned the Catalan side a point with a penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta put the visitors ahead in spectacular fashion.

“Two points escaped, two important ones. If we don’t have consistency, we can’t fight for the title. We don’t have it, we’re losing points and I think the teams behind us are catching up,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told Movistar.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone admitted his team did not deserve the three points.

“The draw was fair,” he said, after Atletico extended their winless streak in La Liga to three games. They sit six points below leaders Barcelona and Real.

“We controlled the game better in the first half, we were doing well, we had a good control of it.

“The penalty came from an isolated play and they scored the goal and the game went into a different territory. They had the home enthusiasm to win.” AFP, REUTERS