Oh, what a day to be a Real Madrid fan! They've just thumped Girona 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu, leaving the rest of La Liga to ponder if the title race is already in the bag or if there's still a chance for some last-minute drama. Jude Bellingham seems to have taken the term "brace" quite literally with his two goals, while Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo decided they couldn't let all the fun be had by one Englishman and added their own goals to the tally.
This victory has not only extended Real Madrid's lead at the top of the table but also showcased their dominance in what was supposed to be a closely contested match. Girona, who have been the surprise package of the season, were left looking like they'd seen a ghost – or rather, a very well-drilled Real Madrid side.
The match was a statement from Real Madrid, with Ancelotti's tactical masterclass making Girona's attack look about as threatening as a soggy biscuit. Even Joselu's missed penalty in the dying moments of the game couldn't dampen the spirits of the Madridistas, as they were already celebrating a convincing win.
So, if you're a Real Madrid supporter, you're probably walking on air right now, while Girona fans might be contemplating if they've been dreaming all season. But hey, in football, there's always next week, right? Unless you're Real Madrid, then there's just the sweet taste of victory and the Champions League looming on the horizon.
Real Madrid 4-0 Girona: La Liga – as it happened
Key events
This is Real life. In the hours before this unlikely title decider, posters had gone up near the Santiago Bernabéu declaring that Girona are forever dreaming but instead there was an awakening. Carlo Ancelotti had insisted that whatever happened here the title race was not run, but by the end here it was hard not to see this as definitive. Not just because Real Madrid beat their nearest and most unexpected rivals for La Liga to go five points clear at the top, but the way they did it.
Two goals from Jude Bellingham and one each from Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo delivered a statement to go with the victory. Girona have been superb this season but when it came to it, Madrid were just too good. Vinicius in particular was, his countryman and opponent Yan Couto left in tears at full time, the rebellion crushed almost from the start. Even Joselu missing a penalty with the last kick didn’t matter; this had long been over.
It’s finished Leverkusen 3-0 Bayern Munich. Crikey!
An update via Guillem Balague on ITV, who says Bellingham rolled his ankle and will have some tests tomorrow. Bellingham was pictured with ice on his ankle on the bench, but could still be fit for the trip to Leipzig on Tuesday.
Here’s how the top of the table looks…
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 24 | 37 | 61 |
| 2 | Girona | 24 | 23 | 56 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 23 | 17 | 50 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 23 | 20 | 48 |
| 5 | Athletic Bilbao | 23 | 21 | 45 |
Full time: Real Madrid 4-0 Girona
Well, that was fun while it lasted. Real Madrid go five points clear after a dominant display that will surely put paid to Girona’s title dream. Jude Bellingham scored twice, Vinicius got a brilliant first and was electric throughout, and the league leaders could even afford to miss a late penalty.
Joselu misses the penalty!
No – he crashes the spot-kick off the post. And with the clock at 90.00, the referee calls time!
Penalty to Real Madrid! Yan Couto’s nightmare game gets worse as he trips Arda Guler in the area. Joselu will have the chance to make it five …
88 mins: Savio goes down extravagantly after Garcia puts a hand on him in the penalty area. The referee isn’t interested.
87 mins: Vazquez’s cross is flicked wide by Joselu, who may have got in the way of the better-placed Diaz.
86 mins: Couto, who looks much better going forward, curls a shot just over the bar. Girona are still trying, at least.
85 mins: Savio tries to give the small pocket of Girona fans something to cheer, shimmying into space and crossing low – but Tchouameni is there to clear away!
83 mins: Real Madrid do what they’ve done a hundred times in this game, charging through midfield and then attacking Girona’s weak right side. This time it’s Diaz who gets into space, but he miscues his shot.
82 mins: This time Diaz tees up Fran Garcia, whose shot from a tight angle slaps into the side netting.
81 mins: Fran Garcia bustles upfield and cuts back from the byline to Diaz, who can’t get the ball under control.
79 mins: Couto, who is playing in a more advanced role, catches Fran Garcia with a high boot and is penalised.
At least the title race in Germany is very much on …
76 mins: More Real Madrid changes, with a Champions League trip to Leipzig coming up on Tuesday. Vinicius is replaced by Arda Guler, while Fran Garcia comes on for Mendy.
75 mins: Mendy is booked, and will miss Real’s next match, after a foul on Couto that was the definition of unnecessary.
73 mins: Girona’s reshuffled attack are probing without much success; first Valery’s cross drifts beyond everyone, and then Couto’s attempted through ball is cut out by Mendy.
70 mins: Three changes for the visitors, too: Cristhian Stuani, Valery and Jhon Solis are on for Martin, Tsygankov and Dovbyk.
69 mins: For Real Madrid, Joselu replaces Rodrygo while Ancelotti swaps the nous and skill of Toni Kroos for the nous and skill of Luka Modric.
68 mins: Yan Couto trips Camavinga and gets a booking. That’s the kind of foul that may be “blue card” territory soon enough.
66 mins: Carvajal is struck full in the face by a long-range shot, and has to be checked over by medical staff before he can carry on.
64 mins: It’s been a scrappy spell of play, with Girona looking like they would gladly accept the final whistle.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Girona (Rodrygo 60')
Safe to say, we’re in rout territory now. Yan Couto’s tough night continues as he loses the ball to Vinicius, who sets Rodrygo away to run through a tired defence and lash the ball into the far corner.
60 mins: Rodrygo flashes a free header over the bar, and this could easily become a rout …
58 mins: The physio is having a look at Bellingham’s ankle, which was already strapped up. He looks frustrated, but possibly that’s because he was having such a good game.
57 mins: Bellingham goes down again, shakes his head and removes his boot. His evening is over, although it is hopefully nothing more than a precautionary measure. Brahim Diaz is on in his place.
Once again, Vinicius is the architect, getting beyond two Girona defenders down the left in dismissive fashion. His cross-shot is parried by Gazzaniga, but it’s straight into the path of Bellingham, in the right place at the right time again.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Girona (Bellingham 54')
Bellingham trots back on the field and gets his second goal almost immediately, and Girona’s brief hopes of a revival are extinguished.
52 mins: Aleix Garcia fires a shot wide from 25 yards out. Girona have shifted to a 4-3-3 setup, with Torre sitting deeper than Portu did in the first half.
51 mins: Bellingham goes down awkwardly after trying to take the ball from Pablo Torre; he looks OK to continue for now.
50 mins: Girona break and Miguel gets upfield again to feed Savio, who skips past his marker before his cross is scrambled away. Positive signs for the visitors early in this second half.
49 mins: Carvajal’s half-volley is so wildly miscued that it almost becomes a cross into Rodrigo’s path, but Miguel is there to nick the ball away …
47 mins: But it’s Girona who make the first opening of the half, Miguel zipping down the left flank and firing in a cross that Lunin has to palm out of Dovbyk’s path.
46 mins: Gazzaniga drags the ball back to evade Rodrygo as Real Madrid try and apply immediate pressure …
Second half
The second half is under way, with Girona making one change. Attacking midfielder Portu is off, replaced by Pablo Torre – who is on loan from Barcelona.
In Leverkusen, the hosts have what sounds like a deserved half-time lead over Bayern Munich.
Jude wasn’t the first Bellingham to score a goal today; younger brother Jobe was on target for Sunderland as they beat Plymouth at home.
Half time: Real Madrid 2-0 Girona
It’s all gone very much to plan for the league leaders, who struck early through Vinicius’ brilliant finish and took charge of the game. Bellingham made it two from Vinicius’ pinpoint through ball, and it could have been more. Can Girona respond? We’ll find out soon.
49 mins: Couto appeals for a handball after Mendy blocks his cross. The referee blows – for half time.
48 mins: Bellingham plays in Vinicius, whose shot from a tight angle rolls wide. The shot count is now 8-1 in favour of Real Madrid.
47 mins: Finally, some attacking space for Girona and Dovbyk – but his attempted flick-through to Portu is a bit too cute, and read effortlessly by Toni Kroos.
46 mins: There’ll be four added minutes. Camavinga wins the ball close to the edge of his area and launches another dangerous counter, which ends with Bellingham firing over from the edge of the box.
45 mins: Couto tries again, but his cross drifts through to Lunin with players in the box. Artem Dovbyk shrugs in frustration; he hasn’t been able to get into the game.
44 mins: Couto’s cross is cut out and Real quickly work the ball to Bellingham, whose long jog downfield is only ended by a well-timed Garcia tackle.
42 mins: Ferland Mendy is now pushing forward from full-back, trying to link up with Vinicius and Bellingham. The hosts having fun here.
40 mins: Vinicius fizzes in another low cross, which Gazzaniga gathers.
38 mins: Things couldn’t have gone much better for Real Madrid so far, and Girona are hanging on for half-time.
This feels like a hammer blow for Girona, who are sliced open by Vinicius’ brilliant through ball, played with the outside of his boot. It’s weighted perfectly for Bellingham to take it round Gazzaniga and slot into an empty net. That’s his 15th La Liga goal this season.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Girona (Bellingham 36')
And within seconds, Real Madrid double their lead in lethal fashion through Jude Bellingham!
35 mins: Girona get a free kick out wide, but the delivery floats beyond everyone and out of play …
34 mins: Valverde is also doubling up to help Vazquez contain Savio, giving the winger nowhere to go. This time he holds the ball up before playing in Miguel, whose cross drifts beyond Dovbyk.
32 mins: Fede Valverde, a player I’ve never seen have a bad game, forces a defensive error and lays it off to Bellingham, who drags his shot wide from the edge of the area.