MADRID: Spanish champions Real Madrid narrowed the gap on leaders Barcelona to four points with a 3-0 win away to Leganes, an important victory in more than ways than one before the Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Jude Bellingham scored his second league goal in as many games in a comfortable victory ahead of their Champions League match with Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with his seventh league goal of the season on the stroke of half-time after Vinicius Junior rifled a low ball across the box.

Federico Valverde doubled the lead in the second half with a powerful strike from a free-kick, beating goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic at his near post.

Bellingham netted in the 85th minute after he reacted first to nod in Brahim Diaz’s deflected effort off the crossbar.

Frenchman Mbappe thought he had opened the scoring earlier with a powerful finish from Vinicius Junior’s pass, but the offside flag was quickly raised.

Teenager Arda Guler was handed a rare start and he forced Dmitrovic into a fine save from a tight angle midway through the first half.

Mbappe missed a huge opportunity to net his second of the night in the 83rd minute as his rushed strike could only sting the palms of the keeper.

Leganes, who are yet to register a victory over Real, were unable to threaten the returning Thibaut Courtois’ goal and did not manage a shot on target.

Madrid’s injury crisis saw youngster Raul Asencio starting in the heart of the defence with stand-in captain Valverde playing 90 minutes at right-back.

########