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3 hours ago
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After a brilliant parenthesis in Europe and this 3-1 success against Manchester City, Real Madrid was back in business in Liga this Sunday. And it was absolutely necessary to win, since the Merengues arrived on a series of three games without winning in the championship, with FC Barcelona which passed in front and which won yesterday in Las Palmas, therefore having temporarily three points ahead of the Merengues. It was also necessary to win to go back to Atlético, winner of Valence this weekend. For this match, Carlo Ancelotti proceeded to a few rotations and also composed without the suspended Bellingham, with Alaba holder in the defense axis in particular, as well as the appearance of Brahim Diaz in the eleven. Opposite, Girona was also on a fairly negative dynamic, with four defeats on her last five Liga games.
And the meeting started strong, on one side as on the other. It was Girona who signed the first warning of the game, and Courtois had to save a ball on his line in front of Arnau Martinez (5th). Behind, Kylian Mbappé responded with a strike on Gazzaniga (5th). An animated start to the match, and little by little, Real Madrid was starting to take control of the game. Mbappé found Vinicius, but the head of the Brazilian passed over the frame (16th). After a nice number, Brahim Diaz struck in force at closed angle, but Gazzaniga put a beautiful hand (27th). Dominators, Carlo Ancelotti's men, however, struggled in the last gesture. Opposite, Girona gave the impression of rushing a little … But the Catalans knew how to be dangerous as soon as they pressed the accelerator, and Courtois avoided the goal of Van de Beek with a superb parade (30th). On the action that followed, Krejci cut a pass from the death of Vinicius Jr in Mbappé after a rapid transition from the Merengues (30th). Tsygankov was completely missing his volley from the penalty spot, inexplicably alone in the surface (32nd).
Not a big Mbappé
Anyway, this Real Madrid was not particularly reassuring, and looked more like the one we saw in recent weeks in Liga than in Real Madrid conquering and dominant in the Champions League. The difference was finally going to come from Luka Modric. After a corner pushed by the defense of Girona, the Croatian, outside the surface, controlled the chest and chained on a superb half-volley which was lodged at the bottom of the cages (1-0, 41st). A real 39 -year -old golazo. Real Madrid therefore returned to the locker room with the advantage on the display board, being generally a little higher in the game but very far from its best level. On the return from the break, Girona gave the impression of wanting to take a little more initiatives, and no longer necessarily be satisfied with some assaults here and there.
However, it was always Real Madrid that was offered the best situations, such as this penetration of Vinicius Jr in the surface (51st), or this strike from Lucas Vazquez which bordered on the right post (52nd). Vinicius Jr was trying a distant shot and saw the leather crashing on the bar, passing to the two fingers of a golazo (58th). Kylian Mbappé was quite discreet, and the second period struggled to ignite, with a Real Madrid with less biting and a slightly more offensive but not sharp enough to hurt courtes. Vinicius, best Madrid offensive tonight, still bordered on the goal with a nice hook in the surface, followed by a shot which passed a few centimeters above the bar (74th). Mbappé rushed to him on Gazzaniga after a Modric's ball love in the back of the defense (80th). Le Bondynois would however offer a very good ball to Vinicius Jr who, in the area, placed the tip of the foot to beat the rival goalkeeper and sign the second goal Merengue (2-0, 84th). Rodrygo, after a Caviarga caviar, opened his foot too much and did not frame since the entrance to the surface (89th), while Mbappé lacked a new opportunity in additional time. The three points in his pocket, Real Madrid returns second and picked up at Barça.
