It's time to keep our heads up
Despite the defeat, it is a day to appreciate the difficulty and the merit of what the team is achieving this season, which is still in second place
Girona ran aground at the Santiago Bernabéu against a demanding Real Madrid side and suffered their second defeat of the season in 24 games, again against Los Blancos. Míchel Sánchez's men were not comfortable against an opponent who made an early breakthrough through Vinícius, and who saw their game plan reinforced. Ancelotti's men, who had only conceded two draws at home all season, were very solid in both areas and made transitions their most dangerous weapon. It is time to turn the page to continue competing for goals, and just the fact that they travelled to Madrid with the possibility of fighting for the leadership already indicates the merit of what this team is achieving.
Míchel Sánchez's men have been valiant and have tried to compete on equal terms in one of the most complicated arenas in the whole of the Primera División, but they have not been able to show their usual version against an opponent who have shown their best side in a game where they also had a lot at stake. With quick and powerful players in space, Real Madrid were very incisive through their verticality and made the difference with the individual talent of their attackers. Vinícius's goal right from the kick-off put the game in their favour, and the Brazilian was again decisive in the second goal with an outside pass to Bellingham that left him alone in front of Gazzaniga to finish.
Girona tried to stretch at the restart and enjoyed better minutes, but they found it difficult to make progress against a Real Madrid side who were very well positioned and solid in the duels. Bellingham, in an action that again originated from the boots of Vinícius, took advantage of a loose ball inside the six-yard box to score the third, and Rodrygo scored the fourth and definitive again by finding metres to run and adjusting his shot from outside the box to the base of the right-hand post. In the last minute, Joselu missed a penalty.
Despite the defeat, it is also a day to appreciate the difficulty of what the team is achieving. Only Real Madrid have been able to beat Girona this season, who are still second in the standings, and with many dreams yet to be fulfilled in a totally extraordinary year. Next week the Red and Whites will visit another very demanding venue, San Mamés, to face a direct rival in the fight for the objective of playing in the Champions League.
