Yan Diomande says he enjoyed facing former club RB Leipzig after scoring a stunning goal in Real Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League victory on Wednesday night.
The forward came off the bench to complete Madrid’s impressive win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler also scored as the Spanish giants maintained their strong European form.
Leipzig briefly threatened to fight back when T. Gomis made it 3-1. However, Diomande struck late in the game to end any hopes of a comeback and seal Madrid’s fourth goal.
The substitute produced an impressive finish after connecting with a difficult ball. He opted to shoot on the volley rather than control it, and his decision paid off with a powerful effort past the goalkeeper.
Speaking after the match, Diomande admitted that the finish required a quick decision.
“My goal wasn’t easy to score, of course, but it’s nice to look at. It went well for me. I had to decide whether to control the ball or take my chances with a volley. I’m glad the volley worked out like that,” Diomande explained.
Diomande turns attention to El Clasico
Diomande also revealed that facing his former teammates felt comfortable rather than awkward. The young forward said he enjoyed seeing familiar faces and appreciated the warm reception from the Leipzig players.
“It wasn’t weird to play against my former teammates. It was fun, actually. Everybody was nice to me. I was the youngest when I was there, and it was really nice to see them again tonight,” he added.
After completing their European assignment, Madrid will now focus on this weekend’s El Clasico against Barcelona. The meeting with Hansi Flick’s side could prove important in the race for the La Liga title.
For Diomande, the prospect of featuring in one of football’s biggest rivalries is particularly exciting. He grew up watching the fixture and now hopes to play his part on the biggest stage.
“El Clasico is great. I watched these games as a kid, and I’m excited to play a role in the game this weekend,” the forward concluded.
His goal against Leipzig has given him fresh momentum ahead of the Barcelona clash. Madrid will hope he can deliver another influential performance as they prepare for a major test in their domestic campaign.
