Kylian Mbappe closing in on golden boot after opening gap to Robert Lewandowski
Real Madrid have little to play for in the final two games of the season, but there is little doubt that Kylian Mbappe will play the full 180 minutes in both of those games if he is fit. The Frenchman is in hot pursuit of both the Golden Boot and the Pichichi in his first season in the Spanish capital.
After grabbing the equaliser against RCD Mallorca on Wednesday night, Mbappe hit 40 goals for Los Blancos, cementing his as the best ever first season for a forward in the history of Real Madrid. Having started El Clasico behind Robert Lewandowski in the Pichichi race, he is also a hot favourite to win the award for Spain's top scorer in La Liga.
One goal away from top spot in Golden Boot race
As highlighted by Marca, Mbappe is just one goal away from taking the lead in the Golden Boot race. Although he is ten goals behind Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, due to the weighting, a single goal would take him into the lead. His 28 league goals is the most of anyone in the 'top five European leagues', alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who is also firmly in the running for the award.
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane face an uphill task to catch those in front of them. Kane and Gyokeres have just one game left to add to their tallies, and if there is something in Lewandowski's favour, it is that he has three games, the most of anyone, to make up the gap, while Salah and Mbappe have just two remaining.
El Clasico key in Pichichi race
Mbappe started El Clasico a goal behind Lewandowski, but with the Polish striker not getting off the bench, and Mbappe scoring a hat-trick, it moved him firmly into pole position for the closing stages. Lewandowski's injury absence in recent weeks has cost him dearly in that regard. Lewandowski has fixtures against Espanyol, Villarreal and Athletic Club to mount a comeback, while Real Madrid face Sevilla and Real Sociedad.
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