Real Madrid won a La Liga game at La Ceramica for the first time since 2017 to move three points clear of Barcelona (two games in hand) and four clear of Atletico Madrid (one game in hand), who face each other today at the Metropolitano.

The win was mainly thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and saves from Thibaut Courtois, and was marked by extreme fatigue from Los Blancos.

The Madrid squad were worn down by last Wednesday’s spectacular battle in the Champions League last-16 second leg, decided on penalties, against Atletico.

The image of several players, including Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni, lying on the pitch as soon as the referee blew the final whistle summed up how they felt.

Tchouaméni, Fran García (now with the doctors), Camavinga and Bellingham on the pitch after the end of the match.

The team is exhausted. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/pW7TidVCnB

— Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) March 15, 2025

There was also controversy pre and post match as, with less than 72 hours rest since the derby game in Europe’s leading competition, Carlo Ancelotti claimed Madrid had contacted La Liga twice to ask for the time of the Villarreal game to be changed. Madrid and the Spanish players’ union highlighted concerns over player fatigue. La Liga sources — speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions — indicated the club had not made a request before the schedule for this round of games was confirmed.

The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana analyses the main talking points.

Is Mbappe on his way to a debut-season La Liga title?

With Vinicius Junior on the bench due to muscular discomfort, Real Madrid needed Mbappe more than ever. That need became urgent with Villarreal’s great start to take a 1-0 lead, and so the Frenchman stepped up.

Mbappe ignited the comeback with two sparks in the space of just six minutes. First, he struck a rebound after a shot from Brahim Diaz, whom Mbappe had masterfully set up.

The 26-year-old’s celebration was minimal as he prioritised a quick return to his own half to get on with completing the turnaround, which he did shortly after, converting a pass from Lucas Vazquez. Mbappe’s central position as a No 9 linked both goals, although the absence of Vinicius Jr would have made it possible for him to occupy the left flank.

That debate has long since ceased to exist at Valdebebas, where they have been saying since January that, with Mbappe at his current level, Madrid would normally win La Liga.

Mbappe has 31 goals (and four assists) in 44 games in his first season in white, surpassing the record of Ronaldo Nazario (30 in the 2002-2003) on his debut and within striking distance of Cristiano Ronaldo (33 in 2009-2010) and Ivan Zamorano (37 in 1992-1993).

The same goes for La Liga goals alone, where he has 20 goals to Ronaldo’s 26 and the Chilean’s 33.

“Ronaldo and Cristiano are legends. If I score more goals, it doesn’t mean I’m bigger, but that my first season is being better,” Mbappe told RMTV. “Scoring goals is important, but even more if we win the league, the Champions League and the cup.”

Mbappe wants more and sets himself no limits, which is perhaps why he was seen making angry gestures when Arda Guler did not pass to him for what could have been his third Madrid hat-trick.

Courtois covers for defensive fragility again

Madrid conceded in seconds against Atletico in midweek, and the start from Ancelotti’s side was not much better on Saturday. There was Juan Foyth’s goal in the eighth minute, but Courtois was also called upon to make a couple of fine saves.

“Ayoze (Perez, the Villarreal forward) had looked at me and said, ‘You’re not normal’,” the goalkeeper revealed after the game.

Soon after, Tajon Buchanan, on loan from Inter Milan, could have made it 2-0. Madrid academy product Raul Asencio insisted his team-mates to do more and be focused.

There were nine saves in total from the Belgium goalkeeper — his return to the national team was made official this week — compared to seven in Wednesday’s derby. Madrid again showed defensive frailty, conceding 23 shots (10 on target) after receiving 17 (eight on target) at the Metropolitano.

But despite these defensive deficiencies, Ancelotti preferred to be positive at the press conference.

“Yes, I’m very proud,” he said. “It’s a victory that says a lot about this team and the resources of this squad”.

Complaints about lack of 72-hour rest period

Ancelotti post-match press conference preferred to focus on the demanding schedule, something he had already mentioned on Friday at Valdebebas.

“I don’t understand it, but we can’t do anything about it,” he said when asked about the short time between games this week. “The minimum recovery would have to be 72 hours”.

With the standings so tight, Ancelotti only rested two of his first-choice available players, Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius Jr (he had not trained on Friday). The Italian wanted to spread the load of minutes and, despite the fact he usually finds it difficult to make changes, he had already made three by the 65th minute.

In the 83rd minute, the usually indestructible Federico Valverde then asked for a substitution. “I’m just very tired,” told The Athletic in the mixed zone.

After the match, Ancelotti said Madrid will refuse to play if they have another La Liga fixture scheduled with less than 72 hours rest beforehand. His players were also upset, including Mbappe, and Courtois, who told club media: “I think it was disrespectful, maybe today we would have left with an injury.” Fran Garcia added: “The body needs to rest and recover.”

From then on, contrary versions appeared.

Madrid said they had asked La Liga for the change twice: the first time minutes after the matchday fixtures were known (which is outside of the protocol deadline) and the second time on Wednesday after their Champions League tie went to extra time and penalties. However, Emilio Butragueno, the club’s director of institutional relations, is said to have had two refusals from La Liga.

La Liga said Madrid only made one request and outside the deadline, and stresses that on other similar occasions, requests were met.

There will be a rest now, at least from club games. With the international break beginning, Real Madrid will next return to action on March 29 against Leganes at the Bernabeu.

(Top photo: David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images)