Girona Stun Athletic Madrid late on to keep pace with Madrid

In a thrilling La Liga showdown on Wednesday, Girona secured a remarkable 4-3 victory against Atletico Madrid, leveling with Real Madrid at the top of the table in an intense title race. Despite Alvaro Morata’s impressive hat-trick for Atletico, Girona’s Ivan Martin clinched the win with a last-minute goal, adding to their fairy-tale ascent in La Liga.

Girona, currently at 48 points, shares the top spot with Real Madrid after a historic clash. The Catalonian underdogs, in their fourth La Liga season since promotion in 2022, are making a remarkable bid for the title.

The match kicked off explosively, with Valery Fernandez, Savinho, and Daley Blind scoring for Girona, countered by Morata’s two goals for Atletico in a frenetic first half. Morata completed his hat-trick early in the second half, leveling the score. Despite Atletico’s persistence, Girona had the final say with Martin’s dramatic late goal, sparking joy among fans and the team. Girona coach Michel described it as a “historic night” for the city and province.

In another match, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Real Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu. Antonio Rudiger’s header from a corner extended Madrid’s unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions. Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged Mallorca’s solid defense, highlighting the importance of set pieces in securing crucial wins. Despite missing key players, Madrid welcomed Vinicius Junior back, and although his return was relatively quiet, his presence added an offensive edge. The team struggled initially against Mallorca’s defense, but Rudiger’s decisive header secured the crucial three points.

As Real Madrid, Girona, and Atletico maintain an electrifying pace at the summit of La Liga, the ongoing title race promises more enthralling encounters, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the outcome.