La Liga: Real Madrid Secures 2-0 Victory Over Girona to Keep Up Title Chase
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a convincing 2-0 victory over Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, thanks to a stunning first-half volley from Luka Modric and a late goal from Vinicius Jr. This win allowed Madrid to move level on points with league leaders Barcelona, who beat Las Palmas 2-0 the day before.
The reigning champions took some time to find their rhythm but began to dominate as the match progressed. The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when a clearance from a corner fell perfectly for Modric. The veteran midfielder unleashed a breathtaking long-range volley that curled into the top corner, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
Real Madrid doubled their lead in the 83rd minute through Vinicius Jr., who was set up by Kylian Mbappe. The Brazilian forward calmly slotted the ball under Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, sealing the victory and lifting the pressure after a recent three-game winless streak.
With this victory, Real Madrid now sits at 54 points from 25 matches, tied with Barcelona but trailing on the head-to-head record. Atletico Madrid follows closely behind in third with 53 points after their own 3-0 win against Valencia on Saturday.
Modric spoke to Real Madrid TV after the match, reflecting on his spectacular goal and the importance of the win. “I was on my own, I controlled the ball, I hit it well and it went in. It’s always special to score at the Bernabeu,” he said. “We have to stay in the fight. It was a very important victory, and I’m proud of the team’s performance.”
Despite their attacking prowess, including stars like Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo, and Vinicius, Madrid struggled at times to convert their chances. Vinicius, who has scored 24 goals across all competitions this season, missed several opportunities, including a shot that hit the crossbar in the 58th minute and another close-range effort that sailed over in the 74th.
Girona, now sitting in 12th place, had their best chance in the 30th minute when Arnaut Danjuma set up Donny van de Beek, but his effort was expertly saved by Thibaut Courtois. Girona’s defender Miguel Gutierrez acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “We tried to leave them less space in behind, but we weren’t able to take our chances.”
