Real Madrid returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a convincing 2-0 victory over Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu, marking the end of a three-match winless streak. Luka Modric delivered a stunning strike from outside the box, putting the home side ahead shortly before halftime. This win secured them second place in the league standings, level on points with Barcelona, who also won 2-0 against Las Palmas.
Modric's goal came after he expertly controlled a looping clearance from a corner, volleying it powerfully past the Girona goalkeeper. Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's manager, hailed Modric's performance, stating to reporters, "What he does, he does very well. We have been lucky to have a legend with us." Ancelotti also described Modric as "a gift to football," reflecting on the midfielder’s admirable career and longevity, likening him to AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini.
The second goal for Real Madrid came late from Vinicius Junior, who shot low past the keeper, ensuring the win was sealed. Ancelotti expressed pride in the team's commitment and attitude during the game's progression, even if it didn't match the level of their recent Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao displayed their dominance with a resounding 7-1 demolition of Real Valladolid, extending their unbeaten run to 16 matches. Nico Williams netted two goals, and his brother, Iñaki Williams, added another late strike as Valladolid struggled after Stanko Juric received a red card shortly after halftime.
Across the league, Napoli faced disappointment as they fell 2-1 to Como. Napoli's Amir Rrahmani opened the scoring with an own goal, putting Como ahead. Giacomo Raspadori managed to level the match momentarily, but Assane Diao clinched the victory for Como with his late goal. This defeat leaves Napoli one point behind Inter Milan, who secured their own victory against Genoa.
The weekend was equally explosive for Bayern Munich, who thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga. Bayern's Michael Olise, Hiroki Ito, Jamal Musiala, and Serge Gnabry were all on the scoresheet, showcasing the team’s depth and talent.
After the Real Madrid and Girona match, Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the performance, emphasizing the significance of overcoming their previous streak of poor form. "It wasn't easy to repeat the commitment of Wednesday's game, but I liked the attitude today," he said.
This weekend’s matches have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting continuation of the LaLiga season as teams vie for positioning at both the top and bottom of the standings. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are poised to challenge fiercely for the title, as Athletic Bilbao proves themselves formidable contenders, and Napoli looks to recover quickly from their troubling setback.