Real Madrid climbed to the top of the LaLiga table after drubbing Girona 3-0 on Saturday evening.
Los Blancos made four changes from their win over Las Palmas, as they were boosted by the return of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal.
Madrid had a slow start, as they were under pressure from Girona early on and with four minutes on the clock, Viktor Tsygankov was unfortunate not to give the hosts the lead with a header from a blindside in the box that came off the post.
Madrid were clinical on their first counter-attack on 17 minutes after Joselu broke the deadlock with a strike in the box from a cross by Bellingham.
Girona found themselves 2-0 down five minutes later after Aurelien Tchouameni powered home a free header from a corner by Kroos.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges remained a threat on counter-attacks and Kroos almost gave them a 3-0 lead on the stroke of half-time with a strike on the edge of the box that was parried over the crossbar by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona were spirited from the break and Yangel Herrera nearly reduced the deficit four minutes in with a header in the box that was parried over the top by Kepa from a cross by David Lopez.
Madrid continued to play on counter-attacks and just before the hour-mark, Bellingham had a good chance put the game to bed with a close-range volley that was saved by Gazzaniga.
Los Blancos caught Girona on a transition attack with 18 minutes remaining after Bellingham eventually put the result beyond doubt with a bouncing shot in the box after a lobbed assist by Joselu.
Ancelotti rested Bellingham immediately after that as he brought on Dani Ceballos and Madrid slowed down the tempo of the game, although they were more free to attack, as Rodrygo almost got their fourth goal in the dying minutes with a close-range shot that missed past the gaping net after he dribbled his way in the six-yard box.
In the end Los Blancos were comfortable but they finished the game with ten men after Nacho had a yellow card upgraded to red following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review after a high boot challenge on Portu, who was driven down the tunnel by the medical team.
Madrid went up to the top of the standings by one point over second-placed Barcelona and leapfrogged Girona, who dropped down to third, by two points.
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