Real Madrid move five points clear with thumping win over Girona
The clash of La Liga’s top two promised to be a closer affair, but Madrid showed their class in the first half. Vinícius Júnior curled in an absolute beauty off the post inside just six minutes to open the scoring - his sixth goal in as many appearances.
After an earlier injury scare, Jude Bellingham made it two by rounding goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga after receiving a wonderful outside-the-foot through pass from Vinícius, netting his 15th league goal and placing him as La Liga’s outright top scorer.
In truth, Girona could not get near Los Blancos, as they recorded only one shot on goal before HT.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men continued to dominate early in the second half, and the two scorers were involved again to seal an impressive victory.
Vinícius danced his way through the Girona defence before unleashing a shot that had to be parried by Gazzaniga, but only into the path of Bellingham who gratefully tapped home his 20th goal for the club - making him the joint-highest scoring Englishman in Real’s history.
Unfortunately, the injury he felt in the first half made him unable to carry on, as he was substituted moments later to the despair of the home crowd.
The hosts continued to play some sumptuous attacking football regardless, and it was only a matter of time before Rodrygo also got involved. The Brazilian caressed his 50th goal for Real into the bottom corner just after the hour-mark, after being set up by his fellow countryman Vinícius, who was lighting up the Bernabéu.
Substitute Arda Güler won a penalty just before stoppage time that could have added more gloss to the scoreline, but another substitute Joselu could not convert as he hit the post.
Regardless, the result puts Real in pole position to win their 36th league title, while Míchel has a lot to ponder as he could only watch his side be outplayed and outclassed from the stands.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
