Real Madrid picked up a fourth successive La Liga victory as they earned a comfortable 3-0 win over Racing Santander.
Following victory over Barcelona in El Clasico last week, Jose Mourinho’s side are now brimming with confidence and they backed it up with an emphatic first-half showing which had the game wrapped up before the half-time whistle.
Kylian Mbappé scored for a fifth time in three games when he gave Madrid the lead from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham doubled their lead with his first goal since September and his 50th for the club.
Marquee summer signing Yan Diomande is starting to show his qualities and scored a third goal in four matches in style to kill the contest before the interval.
Real Madrid moved back to within three points of league leaders Barcelona and brought an end to Racing Santander’s unbeaten run at home while doing so.
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Real started like a team in form and could have got the opener but Julen Agirrezabala pulled off a brilliant save to stop Bellingham’s header from point-blank range from Arda Guler’s cross.
Los Blancos did get the chance to open the scoring when Mbappe was tripped inside the area by Alvaro Mantilla and the referee pointed to the spot.
The France international – who came second in the Ballon d’Or voting this week – picked himself up and blasted in from 12 yards with a strike too quick for Agirrezabala.
Racing aimed to hit back straight away and were denied an equaliser by Thibaut Courtois who was required to turn behind Iker Luque’s low strike.
Madrid made it two midway inside the first period when Guler picked out the run of Bellingham, who latched onto a brilliant pass before rounding the onrushing keeper and slotting into an empty net.
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The third came in quite sensational fashion when a ball bounced for Diomande at the edge of the area and he struck a vicious first-time effort which arrowed into the top-left corner.
Guler was hungry for a goal but was denied again by Agirrezabala after he tried to catch him out.
Madrid were utterly dominant in the first half but Racing started brighter after the break. Yassir Zabiri fashioned a couple of opportunities for himself but missed the target on both occasions.
The hosts had the woodwork to thank for not going four down when Mbappe cut in and bounced an effort off the post and away from danger.
Racing thought they had a penalty for a handball against Aurélien Tchouaméni but the referee overturned his decision following a VAR check after he originally gave the spot-kick.
