Real Madrid cut the gap at the top of La Liga to just two points behind leaders Barcelona with an impressive 3-0 victory over Girona on Saturday.
Goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, and Kylian Mbappé sealed the win.
The result leaves Real Madrid in second place with 36 points, holding a game in hand over Barcelona, who played out a 2-2 draw with Real Betis earlier in the day.
Girona, sitting eighth with 22 points, suffered their sixth defeat in 16 league games, leaving them two points shy of the European qualification spots.
Bellingham, in top form, broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, pouncing on a loose ball to finish from the center of the box.
Ten minutes into the second half, he showcased his creativity by threading a precise through ball to assist Güler for Madrid’s second goal.
The England midfielder, who has now scored in five consecutive La Liga matches, was a standout performer until he was substituted after picking up a knock.
Shortly after, Mbappé added the third with a sharp finish from a tight angle in the 62nd minute, putting the game beyond Girona’s reach.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti reassured fans about Bellingham’s condition while confirming an injury setback for Ferland Mendy ahead of their Champions League tie against Atalanta.
“[Bellingham] is fine, he is available. We’ve had the muscle injury to Mendy but the rest of it is just knocks, nothing more,” Ancelotti said.
Girona, struggling with injuries to key players, now face critical upcoming fixtures.
They will host Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday before traveling to Mallorca for a La Liga clash next Saturday.
“The team has suffered a lot of injuries. It’s costing us more. We still have months to keep growing,” Girona defender Miguel Gutiérrez told Movistar. “We have to keep going. We have two very important games. In the Champions League against Liverpool, we’re playing to get through. In La Liga against Mallorca.”
Currently, Girona sit 30th in the Champions League standings, three points behind Real Madrid, who are 24th and hold the final playoff qualifying spot.
