Vinicius Junior on Fire As Real Madrid Thrash Girona to Move Five Points Clear in La Liga

Real Madrid took control of the title race in La Liga by thrashing Girona 4-0. Jude Bellingham scored two goals but Vinicius Junior was the Player of the Match.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid took firm control of the title race by thrashing second-placed Girona 4-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a long-range thunderbolt before setting up two goals for Jude Bellingham and another for Rodrygo.

Saturday's win saw Carlo Ancelotti's side move five points clear of Girona, who remain well on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

VINI JR. WITH AN ABSOLUTE SCREAMER TO OPEN THE SCORING!

BIG GAME PLAYER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/56TI3wcnpk

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 10, 2024

Vinicius Junior pictured celebrating after scoring a superb solo goal for Real Madrid in a 4-0 win over Girona :: IMAGO/Alberto Gardin

Girona have now lost two La Liga matches this season - both against Real Madrid, who won the reverse fixture 3-0 in September.

Bellingham's first goal of the game on Saturday, which arrived in the 35th minute, was his 15th in the league this season.

No other Real Madrid midfielder has scored 15 goals in a single La Liga campaign during the 21st century.

Vinicius found Bellingham with a fabulous outside-of-the-boot pass and the Englishman finished clinically by dribbling around the Girona keeper.

THE PASS WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE FOOT BY VINI.

THE FINISH BY JUDE.

WHAT A GOAL 😱 pic.twitter.com/yzkvXCBNmf

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 10, 2024

Bellingham made it 3-0 eight minutes into the second half when he tapped home from close range after Vinicius had seen a shot parried by the keeper following a dazzling dribble from the left touchline.

Another superb display of Brazilian dribbling saw Madrid go 4-0 up on the hour-mark.

Vinicius tackled Yan Couto and the loose ball fell to Rodrygo near the halfway line. An off-the-ball run by Vinicius then opened up space for Rodrygo, who carried the ball for 40 yards before firing home a powerful shot from just inside the penalty area.

Couto had been run ragged by Vinicius all night and then Arda Guler got involved in the 89th minute.

Guler drew a foul out of Couto, winning Madrid a late penalty kick. But Joselu failed to convert from 12 yards as he hit the post with what proved to be the final kick of the game.

Highlights: Real Madrid 4-0 Girona