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Goal scorers Rodrygo and Vinícius Junior
Photo: Oscar J. Barroso / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
Real Madrid took a big step towards their 36th league title in club history thanks to an outstanding performance from Vinícius Júnior and two goals from Jude Bellingham.
The Spanish record champion beat surprise team FC Girona 4-0 (1-0) in the top game of the Primera División and extended the lead over their closest rivals to five points. The former Dortmund player Bellingham scored two goals (35th minute and 54th minute), Vinícius Junior and Rodrygo (61st minute) were also successful.
However, Bellingham had to be substituted after scoring his second goal. It was initially unclear whether his appearance in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League next Tuesday at RB Leipzig would be in danger.
Girona only loses to Real this season
Although Bellingham leads the league in goalscoring with 15 goals and has scored 20 in total since moving to Madrid last summer, Real's player of the match was Vinícius Junior, who was involved in all of the hosts' goals.
The Brazilian striker opened the scoring just six minutes after kick-off. Afterwards he was involved in the goals of Bellingham and Rodrygo, a shot was blocked by the Girona goalkeeper and ended up in the arms of Bellingham, who did not miss the chance.
Girona's only other league defeat came in September, when they lost 3-0 to Madrid. Since that defeat, Girona had gone 15 games without defeat and were leading the table at one point.
bka/sid/AP