MADRID -- What can Real Madrid take from their 4-1 win over RB Leipzig into Sunday's Clásico with Barcelona? If you believe Kylian Mbappé, not much.
"It's completely different," he told Movistar, speaking seconds after the final whistle in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League game at the Bernabéu. "We've only thought about tonight's game. The team hasn't thought about Sunday yet."
Still, watching Madrid dismantle Leipzig in the second half -- when goals from Arda Güler, Mbappé and Yan Diomande followed Bernardo Silva's first-half tap-in to ensure a comprehensive win -- it was impossible not let your mind drift towards the implications for Camp Nou.
Is Federico Valverde now Madrid's first-choice right-back, ahead of two specialists in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries? Will coach José Mourinho risk Güler in central midfield, or play it safe and shift him out to the wing? And is Diomande now certain to start, having followed his brilliant goal against Sevilla on Sunday with another, even better strike off the bench?
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"It's been 105 days that I've been here, it isn't many," Mourinho said post-match. "I need to get to know [the players], and the best place to do that is on the pitch, in competition."
Earlier this season, Mourinho had been insistent about Valverde's role. "He can play [at right-back], it's happened in the past, but for me, he's a central midfielder," the coach said in August.
Wednesday's performance, Valverde's second in a row at right-back, suggested otherwise. There were moments of discomfort, like when he was beaten early on by Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa. But after that, he barely put a foot wrong. Over 90 minutes, Valverde had the most touches (115) of any player on the pitch. He completed the second-most passes, after Dean Huijsen.
At one end, he created three chances, playing three key passes, including the cross from which Silva scored, after Güler's shot fell to him. At the other end, no player had more defensive interventions (12, to Huijsen's 11), which includes tackles, interceptions and clearances.
In other words: Valverde was everywhere. After a performance like this, it's hard to imagine him not staying at right-back against Barcelona.
The only player who rivalled Valverde for influence in Madrid's play was Güler. In just the last week, in games against AS Roma, Sevilla and Leipzig -- all respectable opposition -- Güler has contributed two goals and two assists. Against Leipzig, Güler just beat Valverde to the most passes played into the final third, with 27 to Valverde's 26.
He played here on the right wing, and the only question on Sunday is whether Güler stays there, or returns to the centre, in a more attacking, ambitious formation, which might go against Mourinho's instincts.
"[Valverde and Güler] played well on the right-hand side," Mourinho said. "They're good solutions."
There is also the question of finding a place for Silva, who has featured little this season, but deserved his confidence-boosting goal, after a display which showcased his ability to link up the play, always looking for the ball, and then able to turn and find space.
The suspicion is that Silva will be back on the bench on Sunday, but he, and Güler, make the team better.
"It's that balance between having the ball and controlling the game, and also being an intense team," Silva admitted on Wednesday. "It's difficult. I'm ready to help the team, if it's five minutes, 10 minutes or 90 minutes."
And then there's Diomande. Earlier in the season, the teenage winger's minutes were limited, with Mourinho cautiously integrating Madrid's record signing into his plans.
He now has three goals and three assists since the international break, and Wednesday's goal was the best of the lot, volleying a Brahim Díaz cross effortlessly into the top corner.
"He has a lot to improve," Mourinho said just this week. "He's young. He's still naive, he's still the unfinished article. At Real Madrid the demands are high ... He reminds me of Vinícius [Júnior] when he arrived."
Diomande is now meeting those demands, and the contrast with Vinícius is stark. The Brazilian was replaced by Diomande after 70 minutes, having again struggled to make an impact. Vinícius is unavailable for the Clásico, as his domestic ban continues.
"The intention of bringing [Diomande] on wasn't thinking about the Clásico," Mourinho insisted. "It was thinking about this game. I knew a fresh Diomande, coming on with half an hour left, is difficult. His speed is important.
"For me, Vini had a good game. He could have scored a great goal, and their keeper made a great save. I wouldn't say he's sad, that's a feeling only he can explain, but his coach is happy."
Otherwise, Wednesday's lessons repeated things we already knew. Mbappé is back on form -- with four goals in a week -- and Thibaut Courtois might be Madrid's most consistently important player.
"The only thing I didn't like was [Leipzig's] goal, which Courtois didn't deserve," Mourinho said. "When you make two saves like he did at 0-0, you don't deserve that your teammates ruin it."
The final scoreline meant Madrid go into the Clásico having scored 12 goals in a week: 4-3 at Roma, 4-1 against Sevilla and Leipzig.
They have the firepower; and in goal, they have Courtois. The doubts are elsewhere, above all in midfield.
"For the Clásico, confidence doesn't exist on a scale of one to 10," Mourinho said. "Saying it's a game like all the others would be a lie."