Kylian Mbappé scored and set up another in Real Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, taking his tally to 12 goals in 12 appearances this season. He was named man of the match.

Mbappé assisted Arda Güler’s 52nd-minute strike with a nodded header across goal, then curled Madrid’s third in himself in the 83rd minute after Yan Diomande had rolled the ball back to him on the edge of the box. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring before the break, and Diomande added a fourth late on, with Tidiam Gomis replying for the German side.

The win kept Real Madrid perfect in the Champions League after three matchdays, and Mbappé is already looking at the new top-eight format that offers a direct route into the last 16.

“We know that every point is important to make it into the top eight,” he told Movistar Plus. “We’ve been focusing solely on today’s match. We can think about what happens on Sunday now.”

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‘He is a great player’

Vinicius Junior started on the left and was substituted off with 20 minutes to go. He is serving a four-match La Liga suspension that rules him out of the Clasico at Camp Nou, and according to Al Jazeera will not be available again until Madrid’s Champions League trip to AEK Athens on 4 November.

Asked about the Brazilian, Mbappé defended him warmly.

“It’s fine. It’s fine that Vinícius is feeling down because he wants to give so much to the team,” he said.

“He needs to stay calm and be proud of who he is. He’s a great player.”

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He was less patient with his own numbers.

“I’m fine. I can do more. I’m one of those players who always have to push themselves.”

“It’s never enough for a player like me.”

Courtois: ‘We need to close the gap’

Thibaut Courtois made two early saves to keep the match level before Madrid pulled away in the second half.

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“Two important saves to keep a clean sheet at that stage and go into half-time ahead,” the Belgian said after the match.

“At half-time the manager told us to improve defensively. We improved, defended with intensity.”

Barcelona lead La Liga going into matchday 10, and Courtois was direct about what José Mourinho’s side need from the fixture.

“We need to close the gap on them, and that can only be done by winning.”

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Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday, 25 October, with kick-off at 9pm local time.

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