Both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have taken advantage of Barça’s poor sequence of LaLiga form. Over the last eight matchdays, Madrid have racked up 19 LaLiga points - six wins, a draw and a defeat - to turn a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead over their arch rivals.

Kylian Mbappe ’s first-half display and a great performance from Dani Ceballos paved the way for Real Madrid to move two points clear of Atletico Madrid — who lost 1-0 at Leganes — and seven ahead of Barcelona. And there was more good news as David Alaba returned, 399 days after his serious knee injury.

Kylian Mbappé continued his scoring streak with a brace as Real Madrid routed 10-man Las Palmas 4-1 to return to the top of the Spanish league on Sunday. Mbappé has struggled at times in his first season with Madrid but now has scored four goals in his last four matches with the Spanish powerhouse.