Girona 4-2 Real Madrid: Girona has caused a major upset by beating Real Madrid in-house with large numbers. The number two of La Liga was unable to cope with Taty Castellanos in the absence of Thibaut Courtois.
Girona striker Castellanos writes history with four goals against Real Madrid
Courtois was not there in Girona due to stomach problems. Andriy Lunin replaced the Belgian under the crossbar at the Madrilenians and things went badly wrong with the Ukrainian’s seventh appearance of this season in La Liga. Where Real had kept a clean sheet with Courtois in six of his last seven games, including against Barcelona and twice against Chelsea, it was far from successful on Tuesday evening. From a cross by Miguel Gutiérrez, who came over from Real Madrid, Castellanos headed in the twelfth minute: 1-0.
Castellanos is one of the players who have come to Girona as a result of the takeover by the City Football Group. The 24-year-old Argentinian is rented by the Catalans from New York City FC, which is also owned by the owners of Manchester City, among others. Prior to the home game against Real, the Argentinian had already scored seven times in La Liga and seized the confrontation with De Koninklijke to hand over his business card. With a long ball, the strong and fast striker Éder Militão was too fast, after which he made it 2-0 face to face with Lunin.
Vinícius Júnior helped Real Madrid get back into the game. By heading in the 34th minute from a Marco Asensio cross (2-1). The two attackers had to do without the absent frontman Karim Benzema, the Frenchman was replaced at the point of the attack by Rodrygo. Without Benzema and Courtois, Real looked less menacing and, above all, less secure in the back.
Second half
In the first minute of the second half, Castellanos gave the Madrilenians hopes for a comeback a big blow. He chose position in the back of Militão. And simply hit the target from a withdrawn cross from Yan Couto: 3-1.
Castellanos once again underlined in the 62nd minute with his fourth goal of the match. That choosing a strong position was no coincidence. The goalgetter from Mendoza again beat Lunin from a cross from the right: 4-1. Castellano is the first player to score four times against Real Madrid. In a single league game since the turn of the century. The tired star was taken to the side in the 72nd minute, after which Girona crossed the line. Lucas Vázquez did something back on a pass from Vinícius (4-2). But the visitors were unable to score a connecting goal. Barcelona can run out against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday evening to a fourteen-point lead over the eternal rival.
