Thanks largely to former Bundesliga star Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid took a big step towards winning their 36th title with a victory in the summit meeting with surprising rivals FC Girona.
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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 (9 p.m./Prime Video) 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.
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).