Girona 0-3 Real Madrid: Player Ratings as Bellingham and Mbappe score in a crucial win for Los Blancos | LaLiga 2024-25
Real Madrid secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Girona at the Estadi Montilivi in LaLiga on Saturday, December 7. The result sees Los Blancos move up to 36 points, closing the gap to leaders Barcelona to just two points, with a game in hand. Girona remain eighth with 22 points from 16 matches.
Both Girona and Real Madrid made decent starts to the game in an equally-matched first half. Los Blancos marginally edged the possession stats and were also more effective in front of goal. They attempted five shots, with three of those on target, and Jude Bellingham's 36th minute goal being the pick of them. The other two were well saved by Paulo Gazzaniga.
The hosts, on the other hand, had the same number of shots but failed to attempt a single shot on target, leaving Thibaut Courtois with little to do. While Girona's passing combinations and defensive shape looked sound, they failed to translate that into effective attacking moves. As a result, they trailed Real Madrid 1-0 at half-time.
Real Madrid made a great start to the second period and looked to keep the ball more than they did in the first half. Arda Guler doubled his team's advantage just 10 minutes after the restart with a smart finish after Bellingham released him with a sumptuous through ball. The visitors looked threatening as Girona were pushed back into their own half.
Kylian Mbappe then grabbed himself a goal with a powerful shot as Luka Modric grabbed an assist for the confidence-boosting moment for the Frenchman. Both managers then turned to their respective benches to make a flurry of changes in the second period. Girona and Real Madrid both attempted five shots with four on target in the second period, but the hosts could not score.
Los Blancos defended well and secured the win and a clean sheet. On that note, let's take a look at their player ratings.
Real Madrid Player Ratings
Thibaut Courtois - 8/10
Courtois made four good saves to earn a clean sheet for Real Madrid. He also distributed the ball with 92% accuracy.
Lucas Vazquez - 7/10
Vazquez had a decent game as he won three duels, making one clearance and three tackles.
Aurelien Tchouameni - 7/10
Tchouameni was deployed as a makeshift defender and still performed well as he won one duel and made two clearances. He also attempted one shot on target.
Antonio Rudiger - 7.5/10
Rudiger had a good game in defence as he won one duel, made five clearances and one interception. He also passed the ball with 97% accuracy.
Ferland Mendy - 6.5/10
Mendy had a decent game for his team but was subbed off after picking up a knock in the second half.
Federico Valverde - 7.5/10
Valverde passed the ball with 97% accuracy and won all three of his duels in a strong midfield performance. He also made four interceptions and two clearances, showcasing his defensive abilities as well.
Luka Modric - 8.5/10
Modric had a great game as he completed 103 passes with 92% accuracy, including four key passes and eight long balls to open up the play. He provided one assist as well, and also won two duels and made one interception.
Arda Guler - 8/10
Guler had a great game as he scored a goal after a brilliant run to get on the end of the pass. He passed the ball with 91% accuracy, including two key passes. He also won four duels and made two clearances.
Jude Bellingham - 9/10
Bellingham had a great game as he scored Real Madrid's first goal and also assisted another. He played two other key passes, won both his duels, and also made three clearances in a complete performance.
Brahim Diaz - 7/10
Diaz passed the ball with 83% accuracy and attempted one shot on target. He also won one duel.
Kylian Mbappe - 7.5/10
Mbapped scored a morale-boosting goal for himself and his team, and attempted two other shots on target. He also won one duel.
Substitutes
Dani Ceballos - 6.5/10
He replaced Bellingham after he picked up a knock and put in a good performance to help Real Madrid close out the game.
Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Endrick & Daniel Yanez - N/A
The quartet came on late in the match and played less than 10 minutes apiece, and hence do not warrant a rating.