Real Madrid vindicates itself in Montilivi
Ancelotti’s men beat Girona, with Bellingham, Güler and Mbappé, and are once again within striking distance of the lead
MADRID, 7 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat Girona (0-3) this Saturday on matchday 16 of LaLiga EA Sports held in Montilivi, enjoying a much greater impact than its rival, who forgave in the first half hour, with a goal included from Kylian Mbappé to take advantage FC Barcelona’s draw shortly before and recover sensations.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men arrived under suspicion for a complicated match, after losing to Athletic Club, with the French striker under scrutiny and without Vinícius or Rodrygo. Girona pushed at the start but lacked the goal and Madrid did not forgive later with Jude Bellingham and, in the second half, Arda Güler and a Mbappé who vindicated himself just like the whites.
The three points put Madrid on 36 points, with one game less, compared to the 38 of a Barça that had stumbled shortly before against Real Betis (2-2). Now, Ancelotti’s men will try to transfer their improvement to the Champions League, with a vital match against Atalanta on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Girona, which will host Liverpool, was left in a situation where I want to and I can’t, failing the European zone in the table.
Those from the capital played with fire with one of their usual discreet first halfs, but Bellingham scored the only goal in the opening 45 minutes in Montilivi. The locals went deep in intensity, runs, good ball releases and chances, and Madrid punished in a moment of siege in the 36th minute.
Girona showed a great version, which is climbing positions in the League despite having to remodel last year’s revelation team, but they lacked the goal. In truth, Thibaut Courtois did not have to make any intervention, but Míchel’s men came within a hair’s breadth of posing serious problems to the Belgian in more than one situation with great mobility up front.
Bryan Gil, Yáser Asprilla, back after injury, Van de Beek, Miovski and even the center back Krejci were around that 1-0 for the locals. They especially looked for the young Colombian, but Míchel’s plan lacked the punch. At the back it also looked good for the locals, with Arda Güler disabled, Brahim also on the wings, and with Mbappé well guarded and without space to run.
However, around the half-hour mark, Madrid moved into the opposite field and Girona, in their desire not to raffle the ball, complicated what until then had been a clean exit. Ancelotti’s men recovered and Brahim forced a save from Gazzaniga, Mbappé also had his own and, in another one in a row with the whites stealing in the opponent’s half, Bellingham made it 0-1.
Miguel Gutiérrez did not burst that loose ball in the area and the Englishman, on a streak in the last five games, opened the scoring. The blow lasted longer than expected for Míchel’s team and after the restart it was Madrid who returned with control of the ball and the game. Possession became white’s and, with more spaces, Luka Modric began to detect the danger easily.
His cross gave Gazzaniga a free header and then he opened a path inside with a pass to Bellingham that the Englishman extended to Güler. The Turk did not forgive with his crossed shot and Girona began to pay for the damage of a stung Madrid. In that sense, Mbappé was undoubtedly missing, and the Frenchman also had his goal from a pass from Modric (0-3). In between, Míchel’s men barely showed up with an Asprilla that made Courtois stretch a couple of times.
With an intense Champions League day ahead, no one wanted to push harder than necessary. The whites, pending Bellingham and Ferland Mendy who requested the change, controlled possession at will, youth player Daniel Yáñez made his debut, and did their homework to have the lead within reach, in the absence of their postponed match against Valencia. Girona, after three wins and a draw, saw its progression slowed to look at the noble zone in the classification.
TECHNICAL SHEET:
–RESULT: GIRONA, 0 – REAL MADRID, 3. (0-1, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS:
GIRONA: Gazzaniga; Arnau, David López, Krejci, Miguel; Iván Martín, Oriol Romeu; Asprilla, Van de Beek (Portu, min.79), Bryan Gil (Danjuma, min.58) and Miovski (Abel Ruiz, min.58).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas, Tchouaméni, Rüdiger, Mendy (Fran García, min.81); Valverde (Asencio, min.81), Modric, Arda Güler (Daniel Yáñez, min.89), Bellingham (Ceballos, min.61); Brahim and Mbappé (Endrick, min.81).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.36, Bellingham.
0 – 2, min.55, Güler.
0 – 3, min.62, Mbappé.
–REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño). He cautioned Krejci (min.76), Oriol Romeu (min.90) and Portu (min.94) for Girona. And Mbappé (min.45+2) and Rüdiger (min.76) in Madrid.
–STADIUM: Montilivi, 13,827 spectators.