Real Madrid resigns from LaLiga in Montilivi

A 'poker' by Castellanos (4-2) keeps the madridistas away from the league title

MADRID, 25 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid lost this Tuesday by a hefty 4-2 on their visit to Girona FC, during matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander, after conceding a 'poker' from Valentín 'Taty' Castellanos that knocked them out of the fight for the title league, already focusing their efforts on lifting the Copa del Rey and getting past the semifinals of the Champions League.

In the Municipal Stadium of Montilivi, and showing relaxation in the defensive line, the merengue team buried almost all their options in the pursuit that they have maintained for months for the lead. Thus, Real Madrid still accumulates 65 points, staying 11 behind a leader FC Barcelona that this Wednesday (10:00 pm) visits Rayo Vallecano.

Despite the negative outcome for the madridistas, his start to the match on Girona soil did not bode well for a bad afternoon. Vinicius Jr. filtered a good pass for the arrival of his teammate Luka Modric, who in the second instance assisted the heart of the area for Rodrygo Goes to finish off with a heel.

The nice gesture of the '21' visitor was repulsed by Juanpe providentially. Madrid dominated the ball at will, although without bite, and was surprised in the first claw of his rival. Roro Riquelme controlled a ball on the attacking left wing and built a play where Miguel Gutiérrez ended up dangerously centering.

Taty Castellanos, well positioned among Madrid's center-backs, headed it 1-0 without Andriy Lunin being able to do anything. The Ukrainian, regular substitute for Thibaut Courtois - absent at the last minute due to gastroenteritis - lived a match to forget in one of the few opportunities he has had this course to safeguard the Merengue goal.

The reply from Madrid always came from Vinicius, hyperactive and confronted on several occasions with the Girona footballers. In spite of everything, the Brazilian extreme did not find allies in his offensive combinations; And to top it off, Girona made it 2-0 in an action with no apparent threat, following a pitch from Arnau Martínez from their own half and after a throw-in.

In her struggle with Éder Militao, Taty Castellanos won the position on the run and was planted in front of Lunin. Firmly, the Argentine striker shot and slipped the ball through the legs of the Ukrainian goalkeeper (min.24). Two local approaches, two goals. Carlo Ancelotti's pupils, half groggy, woke up 10 minutes later.

A left-footed cross made by Marco Asensio, on foot changed from the right peak of the rival area, went straight to the far post; Vinicius appeared there to finish off the first touch, with a celebration dedicated to the Montilivi stands through a defiant look, which soon turned into an ironic smile.

Several times the expulsion was played on '20' from Madrid, dragging the early first yellow card in each entry. However, the rest appeased both teams, even anesthetized the Madrid team. In just 46 seconds, Girona strung together an attack on their right wing, with a cross into Yan Couto's area for a teammate to let it pass; behind, again emerged a Castellanos in a state of grace.

'Portraiting' Militao, the Argentine striker connected a right hand at mid-height to make it 3-1. A quarter of an hour later, without much history in between, came the 'poker' for Castellanos. Thanks to a corner kick, Riquelme received the ball outside the area; His center-shot, in the middle ground between the goalkeeper and the center-backs, stumbled on a Girona player and designed a strange trajectory.

In those fights, Castellanos took advantage with his fourth goal, again with his head and again with Militao and Lunin as 'villains' of the horror film that Madrid was signing. Suffering from a leaden pace in attack and leaks in defense until the final minutes, Ancelotti's men made up the score at 4-2 after 85'.

The umpteenth attempt by Vinicius on the far left was combined with a caracoleo and a backward pass, from the baseline, so that Lucas Vázquez finished off in the small area. Until the timer ran out, nothing else happened. With this victory, Girona now reached 41 points in the First Division qualifying table.

--RESULT: Girona, 4 - Real Madrid, 2 (2-1, at halftime).

GIRONA: Gazzaniga; Arnau, Bueno, Juanpe, Miguel Gutiérrez (Hernández, min.89); Romeu, Couto, Tsygankov (Valery, min.72), Iván Martín (Artero, min.90 2), Riquelme (Reinier, min.89); Castellanos (Stuani, min.72).

REAL MADRID: Lunin; Carvajal (Lucas Vázquez, min.79), Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho (Camavinga, min.52); Modric (Tchouameni, min.63), Kroos, Valverde; Asensio, Rodrygo (Mariano, min.79) and Vinicius.

1-0, min.12: Castellanos.

2-0, min.24: Castellanos.

2-1, min.34: Vinicius.

3-1, min.46: Castellanos.

4-1, min.62: Castellanos.

4-2, min.85: Lucas Vázquez.

--REFEREE: Iglesias Villanueva (C. Gallego). He admonished Arnau with a yellow card (min.43) at Girona; and Vinicius (min.37) and Militao (min.65) at Real Madrid.

-- STADIUM: Montilivi, 13,306 spectators.