Real Madrid thrash Girona 4-0 delivering a 'big blow' in title race

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-02-11/Real-Madrid-thrash-Girona-4-0-delivering-a-big-blow-in-title-race-1r6O54Ym28U/img/d18abbec263143e4b3b5dbd1b124cb5c/d18abbec263143e4b3b5dbd1b124cb5c.jpeg' alt='Jude Bellingham (#5) of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal in the La Liga game against Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, February 10, 2024. /CFP'

Real Madrid beat Girona 4-0 in a key game for the 2023-24 La Liga title race at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, extending their lead to five points (61-56) over Girona on the standings table.

Vinicius Jr. scored the first goal in the sixth minute for Real to sit on an early lead. Then Jude Bellingham added another two goals to further solidify his side’s advantage before Rodrygo sealed the deal. Two of their goals were assisted by Vinicius Jr.

“It’s a big blow for the La Liga title,” Real’s manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the win. “Girona are a very good team. They hadn’t lost away from home.”

“We’re well placed; we’ve done well until now. We have an advantage, but it’s just that, a small advantage,” he said.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-02-11/Real-Madrid-thrash-Girona-4-0-delivering-a-big-blow-in-title-race-1r6O54Ym28U/img/5c5399d728494c1eb2c2e02992d369c8/5c5399d728494c1eb2c2e02992d369c8.jpeg' alt='Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid, gestures during the La Liga game against Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, February 10, 2024. /CFP'

The victory would have been perfect if Bellingham hadn’t exited the game early due to injury. Considering that Real will travel to Leipzig to play RB Leipzig in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on February 13, his situation concerned the club and their fans.

“Bellingham twisted his ankle,” Ancelotti told reporters. “It will be assessed tomorrow. Let’s hope he’ll be available for Tuesday.”

“There are games Bellingham hasn’t played, and others have done well, like Brahim [Diaz],” he continued. “I can’t be more worried than I was today. Today, we had four center-backs injured, and we did well.”

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-02-11/Real-Madrid-thrash-Girona-4-0-delivering-a-big-blow-in-title-race-1r6O54Ym28U/img/92ab4855ba474f829edec8f86e247c08/92ab4855ba474f829edec8f86e247c08.jpeg' alt='Michel, the manager of Girona, looks on during the La Liga game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, February 10, 2024. /CFP'

Girona had been leading La Liga for a long time since the season began but started to slip recently. Their manager, Michel, admitted that the club is not “in Real Madrid’s league” after Saturday’s loss.

“We tried to stand up to them, but when Madrid are at their best, we can’t get there,” Michel said. “The players gave everything, but [Madrid] were superior in the duels. The games from [Eduardo] Camavinga, Vinícius, Bellingham … We aren’t at that level. We’re a club that’s growing. There are only four or five teams in the world that can fight with Real Madrid. When they play like today, it’s hard to stop them.”