MADRID, Feb 11: Vinícius Júnior delivered a stellar all-round performance and Jude Bellingham scored twice before leaving with an injured left ankle as Real Madrid crushed title rival Girona 4-0 in the Spanish league.
First-place Madrid opened up a five-point lead over second-place Girona, whose only two losses in an otherwise sensational season have both come against Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Madrid’s perfect night had one blemish. Bellingham asked to be substituted early in the second half just moments after making it 3-0. It will have to be seen if the England midfielder will be ready for Tuesday’s game at Leipzig in the Champions League round of 16. Ancelotti said it was a sprained ankle.
While Bellingham took his league-leading tally to 16 goals and reached 20 goals overall since joining Madrid last summer, it was Vinícius who powered Madrid to the statement victory by playing a part in all of the hosts’ goals.
The Brazil forward opened the scoring just six minutes after kickoff. He then assisted on goals for Bellingham and Rodrygo, and had a strike that was blocked by Girona’s goalkeeper into the path of Bellingham for an easy goal.
Since its 3-0 setback to Madrid in September, Girona had gone 15 rounds without a loss, a stretch that included the team leading the standings.
Vinícius had missed the previous game, a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, because of back pain. But he was back in fine form.
Madrid had to play with a makeshift pair of center backs – right back Dani Cavajal and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni – with all four central defenders on its team injured.
Beside its coach, Girona was also without leading defender Daley Blind and midfielder Yángel Herrera with both suspended. Artem Dovbyk, Girona’s top scorer with 14 goals, started the game after being doubtful but had little impact.
OTHER RESULTS
Real Sociedad’s scoring woes worsened when it lost 1-0 to Osasuna at home, making it four consecutive games between the league and Copa del Rey that it has not scored a goal.
Next for Sociedad is a visit to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League’s round of 16.
Las Palmas downed Valencia 2-0 thanks to two late goals, while Villarreal drew 1-1 at Alaves. (PTI)
