GIRONA.- Thanks to its two stars, Jude Bellingham (author of a goal and an assist) and Kylian Mbappé (so much so), the real Madrid They won 3-0 on their visit to Girona and moved closer to the lead, taking advantage of Barcelona’s draw against Betis.
The merengue club has 36 points, two behind Barcelona, which drew 2-2 in Seville against Betis, and could surpass its great rival if it adds victory in the pending match against last-place Valencia, which will be played at the beginning of January.
In Montilivi, with Mbappé again denied the goal (he threw out a ball in a one-on-one with Paulo Gazzaniga at the beginning of the second half), the leading role for Real Madrid fell to Bellingham.
The English international scored the first goal and assisted Turkish Arda Güler in the second, giving his team a balmy victory after recent poor results.
After half an hour of play, Bellingham took advantage of a dead ball inside the area after a play by Brahim Díaz to open the scoring. In the 55th minute, he put a long ball to Güler from the center circle and the young Turk sent the ball into the net with a low left foot shot.
Tension in the White House
Just five minutes later, Bellingham had to retire apparently with a muscle injury, which if confirmed will mean a new loss for Carlo Ancelotti, with the Brazilian Vinicius Junior still recovering from the discomfort that has plagued him in the dry dock in recent weeks.
Now without the ‘5’, Mbappé did appear then, to finish with a right cross after an assist from Luka Modric (62).
Ten minutes later, Gazzaniga prevented the double from the French striker, who despite his nine goals in LaLiga, was being criticized in recent weeks for his poor performance and the missed penalties in the defeats against Liverpool and Athletic Club.
Possibly without Bellingham, Vini and Rodrygo, Real Madrid will need Mbappé’s goals more than ever, starting on Tuesday with the complicated trip to Bergamo to clash against Atalanta in the Champions League.
