Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig: Mbappé and Diomande score late as Madrid win 4-1 to stay perfect

Real Madrid kept their perfect Champions League start on Wednesday, beating RB Leipzig 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu after a nervy first half. Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomande scored for José Mourinho’s side, and the match drew more than 200,000 US searches, according to Google Trends. It kicked off at 3 p.m. ET.

Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig: goals and result

Final: Real Madrid 4, RB Leipzig 1 (halftime 1-0)

• 43’ Bernardo Silva (1-0): his first goal for Madrid since joining from Manchester City in the summer
• 52’ Arda Güler (2-0): assisted by Mbappé
• 83’ Kylian Mbappé (3-0): assisted by Diomande
• 85’ Tidiam Gomis (3-1): assisted by Christoph Baumgartner
• 87’ Yan Diomande (4-1): assisted by Brahim Díaz

Goals and assists are from BBC Sport’s match data. The DFB data center listed attendance at 73,016, with István Kovács refereeing.

Courtois kept Madrid level early

Leipzig were the more dangerous side for much of the first half, according to BBC Sport. Thibaut Courtois made two smart saves to deny Christopher Nkunku and Rômulo, and UEFA’s report said Madrid were “thankful” to their goalkeeper.

Madrid finally broke through two minutes before the break. Güler’s shot deflected off a defender and squirmed between the legs of Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, and Bernardo Silva forced it over the line.

Second half: Güler, Mbappé and a stunning Diomande volley

Vandevoordt tipped a stinging Federico Valverde shot past the post early in the second half, but he couldn’t stop Güler from tapping in at the back post after Mbappé headed the ball across goal. Mbappé then got his own goal in the 83rd minute with a curling finish from the edge of the box, which BBC Sport said was his 12th goal in 12 games this season.

Gomis pulled one back for Leipzig two minutes later after a neat move. Then came the moment many fans were searching for: substitute Yan Diomande, who left Leipzig for Madrid in the summer in a move BBC Sport valued at £120 million, smashed a volley from outside the box into the top corner against his former club.

Who was the player of the match?

That depends on who you ask. UEFA named Mbappé its official Player of the Match. In BBC Sport’s user ratings, Jude Bellingham, who set up a chance for Mbappé with a cutback, had the highest average score (8.12), ahead of Diomande and Güler.

Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, another name in US searches, featured for the visitors, but he and most of his teammates drew low marks from BBC users on a frustrating night.

Champions League standings: Madrid at three for three

The win makes it three wins from three league-phase games for Madrid, which means nine points. UEFA noted that Aston Villa and Real Betis also made it three from three on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Matchday 3, according to UEFA:

• Como 4, Manchester United 1
• Bayern München 2, Arsenal 2
• Aston Villa 3, Viking 1
• Real Betis 1, Feyenoord 0
• Inter 1, Shakhtar Donetsk 0

Real Madrid schedule: Clásico next

Madrid’s next game is the first Clásico of the season against Barcelona on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. ET (20:00 GMT), per BBC Sport. Their next Champions League match is at AEK Athens on Wednesday, Nov. 4 (12:45 p.m. ET). Leipzig host Manchester City that same evening (3 p.m. ET).

FAQ

Who won Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig? Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Bernabéu on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.

Who scored for Real Madrid? Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomande.

Who scored for Leipzig? Tidiam Gomis, in the 85th minute.

When is Real Madrid’s next game? Against Barcelona on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. ET.

Earlier coverage: Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig: Real Madrid win 4-1 at the Bernabéu to stay perfect in the Champions League (Oct 21)