Big step towards the title
Bellingham easily leads Real Madrid past FC Girona
February 10, 2024, 9:34 p.m
Real Madrid can win the summit meeting with FC Girona. Former Bundesliga star Jude Bellingham in particular is in top form. While the Madrilenians are getting a lot closer to the title, Girona don’t have many options left after their second defeat of the season.
The Spanish football record champions Real Madrid have taken a big step towards their 36th title win, thanks primarily to former Bundesliga star Jude Bellingham, with a victory in the summit meeting with surprising rivals FC Girona. With the 4-0 (2-0) win, the Royals extended their lead over the second-placed Catalans to five points and celebrated a successful dress rehearsal for their round of 16 first leg in the Champions League on Tuesday at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
With former world champion Toni Kroos in the starting line-up and without national player Antonio Rüdiger, who is still injured, Real made the balance of power on the pitch clear before the break. Vinicius Junior (6th) and Bellingham (35th), who moved to Spain from German runner-up Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season, established the home team’s reassuring lead for the second round.
Fight for a place in the Champions League
After the break, Bellingham (54th) again made the decision. Rodrygo (61st) scored the final score for coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team. In the final minute, the hosts were able to overcome a missed penalty from Joselu.
For Girona, after their second defeat of the season, securing a place in the Champions League should be the most important goal. The neighbors of the defending champions FC Barcelona, who were practically eliminated from the championship race, had already suffered their first defeat of the current season in the first leg against the Madrilenians (0:3).