Real Madrid 3-0 Girona (December 7, 2024) Match analysis

Real Madrid reduced the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona to two points with a comfortable 3-0 win at Girona on Saturday thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler and Kylian Mbappé.

Second-placed Real have 36 points with a game against Barça, who played a 2-2 draw at Real Betis the previous Saturday. Girona suffered its sixth defeat in 16 league games and remains eighth on 22 points, two points behind the European places.

Bellingham opened the scoring in the 36th minute, taking advantage of a loose ball and firing home from the center of the box before a lovely through ball from Güler put him ahead 2-0 ten minutes after the break.

The English midfielder, who scored in his fifth consecutive LaLiga game, had an outstanding game but was sent off after taking a hit just before Mbappé made it 3-0 with a shot from a tight angle in the 62nd minute secured the victory.

Real boss Ancelotti told reporters that Bellingham had suffered serious injuries but also lost full-back Ferland Mendy to a muscle problem ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Atalanta.

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“(Bellingham) is fine, he’s available. We had Mendy’s muscle injury, but the rest is just blows, nothing more,” said the Italian coach.

Girona have been without key players due to injury and now face difficult games at home against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday and away against Mallorca next Saturday in LaLiga.

“The team suffered a lot of injuries. It costs us more. We still have months to grow,” Girona defender Miguel Gutiérrez told Movistar.

“We have to keep going. We have two very important games. In the Champions League against Liverpool we are playing to progress. In LaLiga against Mallorca.”

Girona is 30th in the Champions League table, three points behind Real, who are 24th and occupy the final qualifying spot for the playoffs.