Real Madrid's aspirations for the La Liga title regained momentum on Sunday as they triumphed over Girona with a decisive 2-0 victory. This win not only solidified their position alongside Barcelona at the top of the league standings but also placed them above Atletico Madrid, maintaining their competitive edge. After suffering through several matches without win until their Champions League playoff win against Manchester City last week, the team sought this strong performance.
The match kicked off with intensity, but it was Croatian midfielder and captain Luka Modric who broke the deadlock, scoring with an impressive long-range shot just before halftime at the 41-minute mark. His strike was pivotal, energizing the squad and setting them on the path to victory.
Brazilian star player Vinicius Junior sealed the game for Real Madrid with another goal at the 83rd minute. Having won the FIFA Best Player award for 2024, Vinicius had been without goals for about one month across all competitions. His last Liga goal came back during the match against Osasuna last November, where he had scored three times. Therefore, netting this goal was significant for him and for the team's morale as they chased the title.
With this latest win, Real Madrid now stands level with Barcelona, both teams accruing 54 points each after Barcelona managed to defeat Las Palmas 2-0 on Saturday. Atletico Madrid is hot on their heels, now positioned third with 53 points following their comprehensive 3-0 win against Valencia.
Girona's loss marked their third consecutive defeat, leaving them stranded at 12th place, desperately needing to regroup and halt their decline.
Across the league, the excitement did not stop at this fixture. Athletic Bilbao showcased an astonishing performance against bottom-placed Valladolid, thrashing them 7-1—a record high since 1994. The standout performers for Bilbao included Nico Williams, who netted two goals, and there were contributions from several others, enhancing their standing to fourth place with 48 points, putting them just above Villarreal.
The match was also notable for captain Oscar de Marcos, who made his 561st appearance for Athletic Bilbao, cementing his position as the second-highest appearance holder for the club's history, just one week after announcing his retirement at season's end.
On the other hand, Valladolid is now languishing at the bottom of the standings with only 15 points, making their chances of survival increasingly difficult. Despite scoring through Mamadou Sylla, they faced immediate setbacks with Stanislav Yulchy's red card, leaving them with ten men and unable to recover.
With the 25th round of La Liga underway, other fixtures were also taking shape. Getafe faced Real Betis, and Real Sociedad paralleled their efforts against Leganes, with Mallorca also set to compete against Sevilla, all eyes focused on the battle for points amid this thrilling title race.