Actual Madrid’s Croatianmidfielder Luka Modric(left) dribbles awayfrom Barcelona’sSpanish midfielderPedri throughout theirSpanish League matchat Santiago Bernabeustadium in Madrid onSunday. (Picture: AFP)
MADRID, Spain (AFP) – Luka Modric scored a superb objective from lengthy vary to assist Actual Madrid safe a 2-0 win towards Girona on Sunday which took them again degree with Barcelona on the prime of La Liga.
Vinicius Junior wrapped up the win late on as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet produced a stable, if not spectacular, show on the Santiago Bernabeu.
After rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, now third, each gained on Saturday, the strain was on for the champions within the title race.
Thibaut Courtois made a superb save within the opening phases to disclaim Arnau Martinez, however Girona have been unable to construct on the possibility.
Final 12 months’s shock title contenders have been laborious for Madrid to interrupt down however far much less threatening in assault than at their fluent finest.
On the different finish Paulo Gazzaniga saved nicely from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius let a superb attacking alternative break down as an alternative of searching for his French strike companion.
One other promising Actual Madrid counter-attack was reduce brief when Vinicius tried to sq. for Mbappe however his cross was reduce out.
Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov ought to have struck for the guests however blazed a superb alternative over the bar, snatching at his shot.
With the sport trickling in the direction of half-time, Modric despatched Madrid forward with a rocket from distance.
The 39-year-old midfielder managed the ball after a nook was cleared into his path and hammered an excellent strike past the helpless Gazzaniga.
Madrid had additional probabilities to increase their lead within the second half, with Vinicius clipping the crossbar with a curling effort from the sting of the field.
Gazzaniga made a fantastic save to thwart Mbappe after the previous Paris Saint-Germain star managed a dropping ball brilliantly.
Finally Mbappe fed Vinicius with a perfectly-weighted cross for the second objective, which the Brazilian brushed previous the Girona goalkeeper.
Actual Madrid have been engaged in a battle with Spanish officers previously few weeks however excluding one second the place Rodrygo discovered his path blocked by the referee, they’d nothing to complain about on a tranquil afternoon within the Spanish capital.
