So there we go. Madrid stay third while Girona move up to 11th. Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Madrid have won just one title in the last six, but luckily they’re quite nifty in that other competition. And that’s where they’l have to look for succour once more, because they are now nine points behind Barcelona, and even if they beat them in two weeks time, six points more than them in what’s left of the season is a lot.
Full-time: Real Madrid 1-2 Girona
What a performance from Girona! Not only have the beaten Madrid, but they’ve done so from behind, and didn’t they deserve it! Madrid are surely out of the title race now, while Girona are now seven points clear of relegation.
90+5 min Madrid win a corner, Courtois is up ... and he’s there first, heading ... just wide!
90+4 min This has been a brilliant performance from Girona, who hung in there in the first half, thanks especially to their keeper, and have been by far the better side in the second. Eusebio identified Madrid’s weakness, at left-back, targeted it, and his players have done everything to exploit it.
90+2 min Added time has been extended by a minute.
90 min There’ll be four added minutes. That was Ramos’ 25th red card for Madrid; what a talent! What a player!
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SERGIO RAMOS IS SENT-OFF!
90 min A free-kick is curled in by Kroos and Casemiro chests it down but Stuani intercedes, only to loop the ball up in the air. Ramos tries an overhead kick, but Alcala is already heading clear and thee Madrid captain is shown a second yellow then a red. It’s hard to argue with that, but at the same time, what was he meant to do?
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90 min Ludicrous to say, but I wonder if Madrid are missing Ronaldo. He’d probably have scored a brace here, early in each half, as he does.
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88 min Casemiro is late on Aleix Garcia, who gets to the ball before him, and is booked. He’s barely featured this half, when his team have needed him. Juanpe drives the free-kick wide.
87 min Bale pops up on the left and skirts around Alcala, who scythes him down; he’s booked. Kroos, though, can’t pick out a man with his free-kick and eventually Bono can hump clear.
86 min Bale finds himself with a sight of goal as the ball bounces in front of him, but can only jab with his studs and Bono blocks.
84 min Gosh, the free-kick we were waiting for before the substitution is bent in by Granell and Lozano, this time in the middle of the box, is up again! But he can only head over the bar. Girona are so good for this - Madrid haven’t been able to up it when things got real.
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84 min Portu, who has been superb in the second half, takes a walk to the side; a very slow walk. He’s replaced by Fernandez.
82 min There is no reason to think Madrid will rescue this based on the play that we’re seeing. But, of course, Madrid are Madrid and tautology is tautology.
80 min Odriozola battles hard to force past Lozano and from the line, cuts back for Benzema, who misses his shot ... the ball arrives into the path of Vinicius Jr, but his curler doesn’t come back enough. He looks the most likely source of something for Madrid.
79 min Girona are well worth their lead. In the first half, they were dangerous going forward and in the second that’s continued, while Madrid have largely been denied chances and dangerous possession.
78 min Vinicius Jr finds space, but can only lash a shot over the bar.
77 min La Liga is nearly over for Madrid for another season.
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GOAL! Real Madrid 1-2 Girona (Portu 75)
Oh I say! Lozano shoots, Courtois can only palm back into play, and with Marcelo not paying attention once more, Portu is there to nod home inside the near post.
74 min Final change for Madrid: off goes Ceballos, who’s been very quiet, and on comes Mariano Diaz.
73 min Marcelo tries a long slash at Bale, but puts far too much on it.
71 min Girona are into this! Portu nashes down the right, playing a one-two off Aleix Garcia, before spanking a rising drive that clatters the near post! Portu is enjoying himself against Marcelo and, on the other side, Odriozola has been pinned back by Lozano.
70 min A heavy touch from Ceballos presents possession to Granell, who espies Courtois loitering and tries a shot from 40 yards that floats over the bar.
69 min Girona look as likely to score a second as Madrid.
68 min In it comes and Ramos goes down, seeking a penalty, but play continues and when Bono gets very little of a punch, the ball falls to Vinicius Jr, who sidefoots firmly but over.
67 min Stuani has a hack at Casemiro, who looks in pain. Madrid have a free-kick out on the right, which Kroos will bend into the box...
67 min Bale replaces Asensio.
66 min I guess the ref was correct in not sending off Ramos, just. He possibly saved Garcia’s shot on purpose, but might also have tried to block with his body - obviously it was him, but there was enough doubt to be lenient.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Girona (Stuani 65)
It’s been coming! Courtois goes right, Stuani goes down the middle, and now then!
PENALTY TO GIRONA!
64 min What is going on?! Stuani plays it wide to Portu, again playing on Marcelo, and again he crosses well ... Stuani heads onto the post, Aleix Garcia shoots, Ramos saves it - of course he does ... AND AFTER A DELAY, THE REF GIVES A PENALTY, BOOKING RAMOS!
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62 min Eusebio’s changes have worked well. Lozano is on Ozriozola and has his measure at the back post while, on the other side, Aleix Garcia is imposing himself. There’s more space for Madrid, but they haven’t really used it yet.
61 min Madrid need another goal. If they didn’t know that already, they for sure know it now. And the reality is, they haven’t made that many chances today - the one Benzema missed a few minutes ago, and not that much else.
59 min WHAT A MISS! Granell plays the ball out to Portu, who crosses high for Lozano at the back post. He’s up above the diminutive Odriozola and is header is a good one, so Courtoisa can only parry ... straight to Aleix Garcia, six yards out! It’s impossible not to score, but impossible is nothing, and he leans back to absolutely luz a drive high over the top!
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58 min Here comes the man! Vinicius Jr replaces Lucas, and I imagine he’ll go onto the left with Asensio swapping onto the right.
56 min Girona are a little more open this half, which is allowing them more of the ball, but also giving Madrid more space in which to play.
55 min Ramalho pumps over a cross that finds Lozano inside the box, but he can only plop a header into Courtois’ arms.
54 min A quiet little period, which Girona will appreciate. I don’t think Madrid changes are far away.
52 mins Asensio stands up Ramalh, drags the ball to the line, and clips over a fine cross for Benzema who, at the far post, has time to plan his header. He should go across goal but ends up planting it into the side-netting, and looks suitably sheepish thereafter.
51 min Lovely feet from Kroos, who then feeds Benzema. An equally lovely flick almost reaches Lucas, but Alcala intervenes.
50 min A few minutes ago, Vinicius Jr did some warming up, and the crowd were pleased to see him. I’d not be surprised if he comes soon as Solari won’t want to see out a one-goal lead.
49 min Asensio curls a rubbish free-kick into the wall, and the ball ends up with Benzema on the edge of the box, whose bobbled shot deflects wide. Again, the corner comes to nothing.
48 min Lozano gets involved almost immediately, chasing Odriozola when Kroos sticks a ball in behind and pulling him down on the right edge of the box. He’s booked.
46 min Benzema pushes the ball across the face of the box and it takes a clip off Douglas Luiz, arriving in Marcelo’s path; he strikes a cross a shot that Bono shoves over at the near post, conceding a corner that comes to nothing.
46 min Two half-time changes for Girona: Porro and Pons are off, Lozano and Aleix Garcia are on.
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46 min Off we go again.
“Real Madrid back to their normal old selves, not lighting up the football world but getting results,” says John McEnerney. “It’s what they’ve been doing for the last few seasons winning 3 CLs without being the best side in Europe. It’s what they do & they do it well!”
I don’t know if we can say they’ve not been the best side in Europe over that period, even if they’ve not been the best in any one season.
Half-time: Real Madrid 1-0 Girona
A decent half from the European champions, but they’ll know they should be further ahead. Girona, meanwhile, look dangerous in attack, and I’d not be surprised if they scored, but it’s hard to see them not conceding at least once more.
45+2 min Marcelo win the ball off Pedro Porro, who treads on his calf in the meantime. Marcelo is displeased, but should be good to continue.
45 min There’ll be three added minutes.
45 min Graham Hunter has just advised Marcelo to work harder, calling him “brother” in the process.
44 min Madrid build patiently and Kroos lays back for Casemiro, who plays a fine reverse pass for Marcelo. He controls beautifully with his left, and as the ball bounces, drives home at the near post with his right. However, he didn’t bother coming back from an offside position.
43 min Girona have actually looked pretty dangerous in attack. Their problem is that they make a lot of defensive errors, often unforced, and against a Madrid in form and in the mood, you’re struggling.
41 min Odriozola mugs Raul Garcia and slides in Benzema, who powers into the box with Juanpe hanging off him and rifles a rising shot that Bono shoves away.
40 min Pere Pons picks up a loose ball and tees up Granell, who absolutely shmices a low drive from 20 yards that flies only just wide.
40 min Marcelo finds himself in space so moves into space and absolutely leathers a right-footer that flies not that wide.
39 min Ozriozola finds Lucas - those two have a nice little partnership - and the latter digs out a cross from the line that almost reaches Benzema.
38 min Pere Pons is back, but Aleix Garcia is still warming up in case.
36 min Superb from Varana, sticking the nut on a fine cross from Porro, just ahead of Pons, who heads his shoulder. He is now on the ground, experiencing discomfort.
36 min Benzama leaps with Juanpe who enjoys a brief taste of elbow and there’s a break while he savours it.
34 min Madrid are playing like a team who know. They’re so patient in possession, comfortable in the knowledge that at some point they’ll acquire themselves another goal.
31 min Lovely from Madrid, Lucas flicking outside to Odriozola, who snaps a fine low cross into the middle. For a second, Benzema looks certain to score, but hanging back to stay onside deprives him of the half-yard he needs to reach it.
30 min Lucas looks a real player now, and he combines with Ceballos to tease Raul Garcia, then swivels into a low cross that Ramalho turns behind for no reason. The corner comes to nowt.
29 min All the play is in the Girona half now.
27 min Madrid keep at it. I’d not be at all surprised to see them chap another before half-time.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Girona (Casemiro 25)
A fine header from Alcala takes the corner away from Benzema and Bono smashes a right hand that sends the ball well away. But Kroos picks it up 25 yards from goal and curls over a belter of a cross, and Casemiro turns up behind Alcala, who’s distracted by Varane, to power a glance into the bottom corner. That was coming.
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25 min As Kroos prepares to take it, Alcala pulls Benzema down, and rather than give a penalty, the ref stops the game and dispenses a warning. Strange.
24 min Lovely pass from Marcelo, out to Lucas, and his cross is deflected by Alcala; Bono can’t catch up with it in time to stop it going behind. The corner begets another.
23 min Ramalho finds Pons down the right, who hooks over a fair cross from a tricky position, but it’s easily collected by Courtois.
21 min Asensio looks sharp and he takes the ball on the left, cuts inside, and curls a low shot that lacks the power it would have had he performed the same activity from the other side.
19 min But here come Griona on the break, Stuani taking time to make a run and set himself before taking a pass from Portu to lash a rising shot at the near post which Courtois palms away.
19 min Madrid get Asensio away down the left and another good low cross misses everyone.
17 min It’s a nice day in Madrid, and Real Madrid are warming up, Kroos directing an attack and lifting the ball over the challenge of Pons before squaring to Lucas. Immediately, he pokes it in behind - to himself - hares after it and lifts a shot that Bono does very well to claw away. Excellent play all round.
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16 min We’ve barely seen Lucas Vazquez so far, as almost all of Madrid’s play has come down their left.
14 min Kroos sprays one wide to Marcelo, who can’t quite reach it on the stretch. He’ll be ganting on winning his place back off Reguilon, but will need to do a lot of running so to do.
13 min Nice from Ceballos, his return flick allowing Asensio to cross. His decent low effort is kicked away, and so is his follow-up.
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12 min Madrid are showing signs. First, Kroos slings a lovely ball out to Marcelo, whose cross is cleared, then Kroos whips in a free-kick that Luiz heads away.
10 min Benzema drops deep to involve himself in the play and seeing him still there makes me think how remarkable it is that he’s still a first pick. Not because he isn’t good, verily he is, but players like him, who facilitate others, tend not to be appreciated at the Bernabeu. A centre-forward there to clear space for the wingers is not a usual thing.
9 min Can someone pleasure confirm that Pedro Pons’s middle name is “Absolute”.
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8 min Girona will be happy with how this is going. Madrid haven’t got close to their box and they’ve looked dangerous themselves.
7 min Portu exchanges passes with Granell and darts into the box down the left side, but Stuani can’t do anything with his cut-back.
5 min Madrid have settled into their passing. It looks like Girona are four at the back, not their usual three.
4 min Yes, it was offside, so Courtois took a frask in shnook for nothing. You’ve got to laugh.
3 min Stuani was probably offside when he collected the pass.
2 min Look at this! Stuani finds himself running at Varane and gets around the outside! Courtois narrows the angle, and wears the shot on his not insignificant nose. It bleeds.
2 min ““I’d love to love Girona Futbol Club,” emails Charles Antaki. “Beautiful town, lovely coast nearby, small club risen from the lower divisions, and so on. But City, and But Gulf trillions, and But Who Are they Now Really? Nevertheless I hope they give Real a complete thrashing.”
Yes, I suppose my experience of Girona is the airport you use when you go on a £250 for flights, accommodation and insurance holiday on the Costa Brava in 1997. A holiday most renowned for the shirt-wearing Geordie below who turned up in our room with a temper and a pool cue, and a crew of local dealers who’d heard people from Leeds were on their territory, and assumed that a couple of our lot, who were wearing Leeds shirts, were those very people .
1 min My feed drops out, but we’ve started.
The question here is whether or not Madrid are up for this - do they just expect to win? - and whether six changes from the win at Ajax will make a difference. The thing is, confidence is coursing through the club, and Asensio, for example, scored the winner the other night. Good luck, Girona.
The players are tunnelled...
So, these teams. Santi Solari leaves the in-form Vinicius Jr on the bench, which is annoying for those of us who were looking forward to seeing him. Rude. The same is so of Gareth Bale, while Luka Modric is suspended.
Girona, meanwhile, play a 3-5-2, so expect Lucas Vasquez and Marco Asensio to have a lot of the ball - Marcelo too.
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Teams!
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Ceballos; Lucas Vasquez, Benzema, Asensio. Subs: Navas, Carvajal, Nacho, Mariano, Bale, Valverde, Vinicius Jr.
Girona (3-5-2): Bono; Ramalho, Alcala, Juanpe; Porro, Pere Pons, Douglas Luiz, Granell, Raul Garcia; Stuani, Portu. Subs: Iraioz, Roberts, Lozano, Carles Planas, Aleix Garcia, Valery I Paik.
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Preamble
Are they doing it again? They bloody are, aren’t they. After yet another mosey through a season of nothing, Real Madrid are running into form just as things get serious. And this time, the league, as well as the Champions League, is in reach. If they win today, they go six points behind Barcelona, who they play at home twice the week after next: first in the Copa del Rey semi second leg, and then in the league. Sort those out, and who knows where it’ll all end?
And, in Girona, they face obliging opponents. In La Liga, the visitors are sixth-bottom, and Madrid recently based them home and away in the Cup. A 3-3 draw at Camp Nou earlier in the season gives Blanquivermells hope, but in all likelihood they’re going to take a further doing.
Kick-off: 11pm GMT
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