Real Madrid made it six wins in a row in all competitions with a ruthless first-half display at El Sardinero, beating Racing Santander 3-0 as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande all struck before the break.
Jose Mourinho's side were in front after 11 minutes. Mbappe was fouled inside the area, picked himself up and dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner for his 12th La Liga goal of the season, a week after finishing runner-up in the Ballon d'Or vote.
Ten minutes later it was two. Arda Guler split the Racing defence and Bellingham raced through, skipped around goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and rolled the ball into an empty net. As TNT Sports noted, it was Bellingham's 50th goal in Madrid colours — a milestone that takes him past Zinedine Zidane's tally for the club, with 76 matches to spare.
Diomande steals the show
The best was saved for last. On 36 minutes a Guler corner was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, where Diomande met the bouncing ball first time on the half-volley and thundered it into the top corner.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger is making a habit of nights like this. Last month he broke a Champions League record held by Guti since 1999 against his former club RB Leipzig, and with Vinicius Junior absent he is taking his chance in the side in style — pace, power and now a finish of genuine quality.
Racing, to their credit, did not fold. Top scorer Yassir Zabiri missed two decent chances either side of half-time, and the home side thought they had a route back into the game in the second half when a penalty was awarded against Madrid — only for VAR to overturn the decision. Mbappe, meanwhile, came closest to a fourth when he struck the post on the hour, as Reuters reported.
So what does this mean for the title race?
Madrid stay third, but the pressure at the top is relentless. They are one point behind Atletico Madrid and three behind leaders Barcelona, who thrashed Alaves 6-1 on Saturday, with the Basque derby between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad still to come tonight.
The bigger story may be the depth Mourinho is building. A front line missing Vinicius Junior still produced three goals in 36 minutes, Bellingham has reached 50 Madrid goals faster than one of the club's greatest ever players, and in Diomande Madrid look to have found the next African star of La Liga — a teenager signed in the summer who is already deciding games.
Beyond the Final Whistle: This was the win of a side that no longer needs its biggest names on the pitch to look inevitable. Mbappe scores, Bellingham passes legends, and a 19-year-old from Ivory Coast scores the goal of the weekend — Madrid's machine is rolling, and Barcelona cannot afford one slip.
Can Diomande keep Vinicius Junior out of this Madrid side when the Brazilian returns? Let us know in the comments.
