On Sunday, Real Madrid secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at home against Girona. The win was sparked by a stunning first-half volley from Luka Modric and a late goal from Vinicius Jr, ending their three-match winless streak and elevating them to second place in LaLiga, just behind Barcelona.
The reigning champions initially struggled to find their rhythm but gradually took command of the game. A corner clearance landed perfectly for Modric, who executed a magnificent long-range volley that found the top corner in the 41st minute.
The second goal came in the 83rd minute when Kylian Mbappe set up Vinicius, who calmly slotted the ball beneath goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Fresh off a 6-3 aggregate triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League knockout phase playoffs, which advanced them to the last 16, Real Madrid now have 54 points after 25 matches. They are tied with Barcelona, who defeated Las Palmas 2-0 away on Saturday, yet remain behind due to head-to-head results. Atletico Madrid sits third with 53 points after securing a 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday.
Real Madrid secured their first LaLiga victory since their triumph over Real Valladolid the previous month, with Modric relishing his goal. “I found myself alone, controlled the ball well, struck it cleanly, and it went in. I can’t say if it’s among the most stunning goals I’ve scored, but it’s pleasing. Scoring at the Bernabeu always has a special feeling,” Modric shared with Real Madrid TV. He emphasised, “This win is crucial; we must remain in contention. Following an intense match the other night, it was challenging to regain our focus, but we succeeded. We understand the necessity of performing consistently and evolving as a team. This win is significant, and we remain competitive.” Throughout the match, Real’s attacking force of Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo, and Vinicius persistently challenged Girona’s defence, yet their precision in key moments often fell short.
Vinicius, who has netted 24 times in 39 appearances across all competitions this season, squandered numerous opportunities to score his first league goal since November. The Brazilian international struck the crossbar with a long-range shot in the 58th minute and then missed from close range in the 74th. Just as it seemed unlikely for the 24-year-old to break his drought, he was set up by Mbappe and finally found the back of the net.
Girona’s loss saw them drop to 12th place in the table, further dimming their chances of replicating last season’s success in securing European football qualification. Their best opportunity arose in the 30th minute when Arnaut Danjuma set up Donny van de Beek, whose side-footed shot was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
“Well, we’re slightly more cautious this season,” remarked defender Miguel Gutierrez. “We opted to play a bit deeper, aiming to limit their space behind us. However, once again, we failed to capitalise on our possession, which resulted in our defeat.”
