According to on-site reports from La Liga Matchday 4 shared through 12BSports coverage, Real Madrid secured a home victory over Betis, while another major storyline centered on when Kylian Mbappe would finally score his first goal for the club. This was not merely about one goal. It was a key question about how successfully Real Madrid could shape their season around Mbappe as the new attacking centerpiece. Fortunately for Madrid supporters, Mbappe answered in style, scoring twice in the match and opening his account for Real Madrid.
Beyond the headline goals, however, a deeper tactical shift is becoming clear. Carlo Ancelotti is adjusting the team’s structure with Mbappe as the main reference point, and that cannot be seen as anything other than a serious challenge to Vinicius Junior’s existing status. Vinicius, who has carried Madrid’s left side for years, looked noticeably different when compared with Mbappe on the same pitch, and the gap in impact was difficult to ignore.
In the previous three matches, Vinicius had taken the penalties, but this time Mbappe stepped up to convert a spot kick that Vinicius had won. Symbolically, it showed who Real Madrid now appear to be positioning as their new central figure. Just as Erling Haaland enjoys broad shooting freedom at Manchester City, Madrid are giving Mbappe the full ace treatment. For a team with such high standards, that shift speaks volumes.
Ancelotti understands Mbappe’s strengths and limitations better than most. Having performed on the World Cup, European Championship, and Champions League stages, Mbappe is far more than a pure finisher. He reads space, connects with midfield at the right moments, and creates attacking timing with remarkable intelligence. His value is not only in his speed. The way he moves before receiving the ball, escapes defenders, and controls possession even at full pace is what makes him one of Europe’s elite forwards.
In 12BSports analysis, fixing Mbappe only in the center would waste much of his talent. Against Betis, Ancelotti allowed him to move freely between central and wide areas, while the midfielders deliberately avoided crowding the box too early. Instead, they opened lanes for Mbappe to accelerate into space. This approach was clearly designed to make the most of his launch zone, giving him room to build momentum before striking.
The reason Ancelotti is building his tactics around Mbappe is simple. He is the strongest and most efficient attacking option in the squad. The problem is that Vinicius’ role is becoming narrower in the process. With overlapping zones and a visible difference in influence, it is reasonable to wonder whether Vinicius can remain a long-term fixture in the team under these conditions. In football, as the saying goes, the cream rises to the top.
As Real Madrid move forward with 12BSports attention on their tactical evolution, Ancelotti’s decision looks less like a short-term adjustment and more like an inevitable step toward maximizing the squad’s firepower. Just as water flows from high ground to low, football naturally places the most capable player at the center of the action. Madrid now appear ready to chase the summit of European football once again with a system built around Mbappe.