Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande is outperforming Mbappe and Lamine Yamal in one key statistic
Real Madrid summer signing Yan Diomande may still be waiting for a regular starting role under Jose Mourinho, but one statistic already places him above some of the biggest attacking names in European football.
Simply put, the Ivorian winger has emerged as the most successful dribbler among players in Europe’s major leagues, with more than 20 attempts this season.
According to WhoScored data, Diomande has completed 72% of his dribbles, putting him ahead of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Diomande leads Mbappe, Bellingham and Yamal
Notably, Diomande’s 72% dribble success rate is the highest among the group.
Bellingham sits second at 69%, while Mbappe has completed 61% of his dribbles and Yamal 60%.
🚨 Players with the BEST dribble success rate in Europe (20+ dribble attempts):
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 2, 2026
1. Yan Diomande (72%)
2. Jude Bellingham (69%)
3. Kylian Mbappé (61%)
4. Lamine Yamal (60%)
5. Miguel Sierra (60%) @WhoScored ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KNRwqPO0bL
The gap becomes even more striking when Diomande’s La Liga numbers are considered. He has attempted 27 dribbles in seven league appearances, successfully completing 18 and failing with nine.
That works out at an average of 5.8 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, showing how frequently he beats his opponent when he gets into one-on-one situations.
For a Real Madrid side that has struggled to create consistent attacking momentum this season, that ability gives Mourinho a strong weapon to consider.
Diomande’s derby cameo showed what was missing
Notably, Mourinho did not initially select Diomande in the starting XI against Atletico Madrid, but the decision changed after half-time.
With Real Madrid needing to respond after being reduced to 10 men, Diomande entered in the 54th minute, replacing Vinicius Jr.
In just over half an hour, he completed four dribbles and came close to scoring.
That performance makes the case for more minutes difficult to ignore, particularly while Vinicius continues to search for his best form.
The Brazilian has struggled to consistently beat defenders early this season, limiting some of Real Madrid’s attacking threat.
Now, with 72% dribble success, 18 completed dribbles in LaLiga and four successful take-ons in his derby cameo, Diomande has already shown a quality Real Madrid may need to exploit more regularly.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
