Kylian Mbappe scored a hugely contentious penalty to give Real Madrid the lead at Racing Santander before Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande effectively ended the game as a contest before half-time.

Madrid travelled to El Sardinero needing to win to move back within three points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, whom they beat in the Clasico last week.

And they were given a great start in controversial fashion as they were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute when Mbappe went down in the box, apparently felled by Matteo Prati.

Replays suggested there had been no contact, yet the decision was upheld by VAR, allowing Mbappe to break the deadlock, meaning he has now scored against all 24 teams he has faced in LaLiga.

Bellingham then made it 2-0, latching onto Arda Guler’s throughball and rounding Julen Agirrezabala before rolling the ball home.

But it was Diomande who provided the pick of the first-half bunch, the Ivorian rifling an unstoppable volley into the top-left corner from the edge of the area to make it three and all but ensure Madrid will head back to the capital with all three points.