Girona pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory against Atletico Madrid, matching Real Madrid’s top spot in a nail-biting race for the title in an exhilarating La Liga showdown on Wednesday.
Despite Alvaro Morata’s hat-trick heroics for Atletico, Girona’s Ivan Martin sealed the deal with a last-minute strike, securing a memorable win. Girona’s fairy-tale ascent continued as they stood firm at 48 points alongside Real Madrid after an intense clash. The Catalonian underdogs, in their fourth season in La Liga, are on a historic run, aiming for the title following their promotion in 2022.
The match opened explosively with Valery Fernandez, Savinho, and Daley Blind finding the net for Girona, countered by Morata’s two goals for Atletico in a wild first half. The relentless action persisted as Morata completed his hat-trick early in the second half, evening the score.
Despite Atletico’s persistence, it was Girona who had the last word, with Martin’s dramatic late goal causing euphoria among fans and the team. “It’s a historic night for us, for the city, for the province,” expressed Girona coach Michel after the breathtaking victory.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Real Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu. Antonio Rudiger’s header from a corner sealed the win, extending Madrid’s undefeated streak to 18 matches across all competitions.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the challenge posed by Mallorca’s solid defense, praising the importance of set pieces in securing crucial wins. Despite missing key players due to injuries and suspension, Madrid welcomed winger Vinicius Junior back from a lengthy layoff, contributing to the team’s attacking efforts.—APP
