Carlo Ancelotti’s side eased to a 3-0 win over Cadiz earlier on Saturday, which meant the Catalan club had to win at the Estadi Montilivi.

Barcelona led 2-1 at half-time, but three second-half goals from Girona left Real with an unassailable lead at the summit with four matches of the season remaining.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been a key figure in Real’s success, having scored 18 goals in 26 La Liga games in his first season with the club.

Bellingham posted on X, external “CAMPEONES!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!!!” which translates as “Champions!!! Go Madrid and nothing more!!!”.

The 20-year-old joins Laurie Cunningham (1979–80), Steve McManaman (2000–01 and 2002–03), David Beckham (2006-07) and Kieran Trippier (2020-21) as Englishmen to win La Liga.

Los Blancos have lost just one league game this season and could potentially finish the campaign with 99 points, which would be their second-highest total ever.

It is Ancelotti’s second La Liga title as Real coach, having previously won it in 2021-22.

Real have now won nine more titles than the 27 held by Barcelona.

The 14-time European Cup winners face Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, having drawn 2-2 at the Allianz Arena.

The post Real Madrid crowned champions after Barca’s defeat at Girona appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Bellingham completed the scoring with a smart second-half finish.

The win lifts Madrid above Girona and Barcelona, who beat Sevilla on Friday.

Girona, who topped the table going into the latest round of La Liga fixtures, started with a spring in their step and created two golden opportunities to take the lead.

Yangel Herrera headed narrowly over the crossbar from a central position inside the area, before Viktor Tsygankov struck the outside of the post from another free header.

Madrid gradually found their rhythm and eventually took the lead thanks to a marvellous piece of play from Bellingham, who picked out Joselu with the outside of his right boot to give the former Stoke and Newcastle forward an easy finish.

Tchouameni doubled Madrid’s lead four minutes later after being left completely unmarked from Toni Kroos’ inswinging corner.

The home side almost pulled one back five minutes into the second half, but Kepa Arrizabalaga was equal to David Lopez’s header and Eric Garcia was unable to steer home the rebound.

Bellingham got Madrid’s third with 20 minutes remaining, finding the far corner after Paulo Gazzaniga had parried Joselu’s initial effort. The 20-year-old is only the second player to score at least six goals in his first seven La Liga matches for Madrid this century, after Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

The game ended on a sour note for the visitors as Nacho was dismissed deep into added time for a reckless challenge on Portu, who left the field on a stretcher.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team travel to Napoli in their second Champions League group match on Tuesday.

The post Bellingham scores as Real Madrid go top of La Liga appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The win kept up their faint hopes of catching La Liga leaders FC Barcelona.

Team captain Godin broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with the help of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after the goal had been initially ruled out for offside against Griezmann.

The technology gave Atletico a lead they barely deserved and France forward Griezmann sealed victory deep in added time.

It was with a delightful chipped finish on the counter-attack, snapping a spell of seven games in all competitions without a goal for his club.

“I sincerely thought that they weren’t going to give us the first goal. We are used to seeing goals like that disallowed when we score them,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone told reporters.

The narrow victory moved Atletico to 62 points, eight behind Barca, who drew 4-4 away at Villarreal late on Tuesday.

Barca host Atletico in a top-of-the-table showdown on Saturday, where a win for the Catalans could effectively end the title race.

The game kicked off in a subdued atmosphere as a large number of Atletico fans waited until the 12th minute to enter the ground.

It was in protest at the team not acknowledging travelling fans after their 3-0 defeat at Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

The strange atmosphere appeared to rub off on the Atletico players as they were lacklustre in defence in the first half.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak had to make two impressive saves to prevent Girona’s Ivorian forward Seydou Doumbia from scoring.

The home side, meanwhile, nearly took the lead when a stinging long-range strike from midfielder Koke thumped the crossbar.

Also, Alvaro Morata spurned a clear chance to score later in the first half as he sent an attempted lob just over the bar.

Morata had to be substituted in the second half with a suspected ankle injury, adding to Atletico’s problems in attack ahead of the crucial trip to the Nou Camp.

Striker Diego Costa and winger Thomas Lemar are already battling to be fit for the game.

The post Late strikes from Godin, Griezmann keep Atletico in La Liga title chase appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The loss, in which captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in added time, left them nine points adrift of leaders FC Barcelona.

Real Madrid looked on course for a sixth consecutive league win when Casemiro leapt highest to meet a Toni Kroos cross and head them in front midway through the first half.

But Girona, who had not won in the league since November, came out with a vengeance in the second half.

They leveled in the 65th minute with a Cristhian Stuani penalty kick, after a handball by Ramos.

Spanish striker Cristian Portu gave Girona an unlikely lead 10 minutes later, nipping in front of Real Madrid’s lacklustre defender Marcelo to nod in on the rebound.

That was after Thibaut Courtois could only parry a shot from visiting forward Anthony Lozano.

Real Madrid substitutes Gareth Bale and Vinicius Jr each squandered opportunities to level for the European champions.

Things got worse when Ramos earned a second yellow card in added time and was sent off for the 25th time in club football.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois came close to salvaging an equaliser but headed wide deep in stoppage time.

The defeat left Real Madrid third in the standings on 45 points, nine behind table-toppers FC Barcelona and seven back from second-placed Atletico Madrid.

The post Real Madrid suffer shock home defeat to Girona, title bid now derailed appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Real won the first leg 4-2 and extended their lead in the 27th minute when Benzema curled the ball into the net.

Benzema scored his second of the match just before half-time, striking low into the bottom corner when unmarked.

Pedro Porro pulled one back for Girona, but Marcos Llorente added a third goal for the visitors from 25 yards.

Wales forward Gareth Bale came on as a substitute and played the final 23 minutes for Real.

It finished 3-1 in the second leg with Real, who last lifted the trophy in 2014, winning 7-3 on aggregate.

Benzema, 31, has played 446 games for Los Blancos since his £30m move from Lyon in July 2009 and has scored 209 times in total, comprising 136 La Liga goals, 47 in the Champions League, 20 in the Copa del Rey, three in the Club World Cup, two in the Spanish Super Cup and one in the European Super Cup.

Real join holders Barcelona, Valencia and Real Betis in February’s two-legged semi-finals with the draw taking place on Friday.

The post Benzema double helps Real Madrid into Copa Del Rey appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Barca saw their lead cut by Atletico Madrid’s win over Levante on Saturday, but eased past neighbours Girona.

Nelson Semedo swept home the opener on 10 minutes, while Messi dinked in a lovely finish the second half.

Girona defender Bernardo was dismissed for two yellow cards in a match which could have been played in Miami, USA.

Champions Barca had support from La Liga for the contest to be staged at the Hard Rock Stadium, but withdrew the proposal in December after the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) and players’ union (AFE) objected.

Ernesto Valverde’s side could have had a more comfortable margin of victory, but Girona goalkeeper Bono saved efforts from Messi and Luis Suarez.

Home side Girona had plenty of chances of their own, but former Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani could not find a way past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, being denied three times by the Germany international goalkeeper.

Barca face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

The post Messi scores 26th goal of the season as Barcelona reopen lead appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Girona sneaked through to the quarter-finals on away goals after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.

Atletico substitute Antoine Griezmann looked to have completed a late turnaround for Diego Simeone’s side, who were trailing 2-1 in the second half.

He put the hosts 3-2 up in the 84th minute.

Yet Girona forward Seydou Doumbia delivered a final twist in the saga by scoring at the other end four minutes later.

Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic had fired Atletico Madrid into an early lead.

But the packed Wanda Metropolitano stadium was stunned into silence by a jaw-dropping volley from Girona winger Valery Fernandez in the 36th minute.

Atletico Madrid, already missing several first-team regulars to injury, lost Spain midfielder Saul Niguez to a muscle problem early in the second half.

They suffered another setback soon after when Cristhian Stuani headed Girona in front following a free kick.

This sparked furious but futile protests from Atletico Madrid who claimed the Uruguayan had fouled their captain Diego Godin.

Griezmann came off the bench on the hour mark and soon threaded a pass towards Kalinic which Argentine winger Angel Correa squeezed under Girona’s goalkeeper to equalise.

Godin then hit the crossbar and Santiago Arias had a goal ruled out for offside as Atletico Madrid chased a winner.

France forward Griezmann prompted wild celebrations when he smashed into the roof of the net.

But the mood was soon punctured by Doumbia, also a substitute.

He poked home a shot from Borja Garcia to send Girona through and dump out Atletico, who have not won the Copa del Rey since 2013.

The post Girona knock Atletico Madrid out of Copa del Rey in 6-goal thriller appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

On Tuesday Barcelona, Girona and La Liga asked the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for permission for the clubs to relocate a game to the US.

The fixture, Girona’s ‘home’ match, would be held at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 26 January at 19:45 GMT.

“I am not in favour of it happening,” former Spain manager Lopetegui said, adding that “It does not benefit the equality of the competition. All the teams should play in the same stadiums.”

The RFEF, the US Soccer Federation, Uefa and Concacaf – the sport’s governing body in North America – need to give permission for the game to go ahead.

Luis Rubiales, the president of the RFEF, has previously spoken out against the US game.

The Spanish players’ union (AFE) has also opposed the match and following a meeting with La Liga on Monday, it said the players would have the “final say”.

La Liga, Spain’s top flight, has agreed to play one game a season in the US as part of a 15-year deal with media company Relevent.

The post Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui criticises Girona v Barcelona US game plan appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Goals from Cristhian Stuani and Portu in four second-half minutes cancelled out Isco’s opener for Madrid as Real fell eight points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after just 10 games.

Madrid were making their first appearance in the deeply divided region since a violence marred October 1 referendum plunged Spain into political crisis.

As a reported one million people joined a rally in Barcelona in favour of Spanish unity on Sunday, just over 100 kilometres away in the pro-independence heartland of Girona, the visitors were expected to receive a hostile reception.

However, it was events on the field that proved far more troublesome for Zinedine Zidane’s men as they lost more ground on rivals Barca in the Liga title race.

“We know we can turn this around. We will have better days and our rivals will lose points over the course of the season,” insisted Zidane.

“There is nothing more we can do, and we know that sooner or later things will turn. There is a long way to go and I am not worried.”

Chants in favour of independence and “freedom” reverberated around the 13,500 capacity Montlivi in the 17th minute as is common at Girona and Barcelona home matches to mark the fall of Catalonia in the Spanish War of Succession in 1714.

However, with plenty of Madrid fans present, there were also plenty of Spanish flags on show.

In their first ever match against the European champions, Girona looked keen to make a mark from the outset and were desperately unlucky not to go in front when Pablo Maffeo’s cross came back off the inside of the post 12 minutes in.

Seconds later, though, the ball was in the Girona net as Madrid broke immediately upfield and Isco tapped home the rebound after Bono parried Cristiano Ronaldo’s initial effort.

Girona continued to dominate the game and hit the woodwork again before half-time when Portu’s flicked header looped over Kiko Casilla and back off the inside of the post.

“We played very well and hit the post twice in the first-half,” said match winner Portu.

“We knew that if we continued to press them hard as a team then you get your rewards in football.”

Real suffered an injury blow days before they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday as Raphael Varane was replaced by Nacho at half-time due to a muscular problem.

And the French international’s presence at the heart of the Madrid defence was badly missed as Stuani jinked past Nacho to fire Girona deservedly level nine minutes into the second-half.

Just four minutes later, Girona were in dreamland as Maffeo’s driven cross was flicked home by Portu and the goal was allowed to stand despite the striker appearing to be in an offside position.

“We can’t make excuses,” Madrid midfielder Casemiro told BeIN Sports Spain.”We have to keep our heads because it is a difficult moment.

“We still have a chance but we need to play better and work harder. Madrid are always obliged to win.”Stuani had a huge chance to make the game safe when chipped the ball beyond Casilla and wide of the far post.

Yet, rather than mount a late comeback as they did so often on route to a first La Liga and Champions League double for 59 years last season, Madrid looked short of energy and ideas in the final half hour as Girona held out for a famous victory.

The post Real Madrid suffer shocking setback in troubled Catalonia appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Barca’s first two goals came from own goals by the hosts, who are in their first La Liga season.

Aday Benitez deflected Jordi Alba’s shot into his own net and keeper Gorka Iraizoz turned Aleix Vidal’s cross into his own net.

Luis Suarez smashed home the third after latching on to a Sergi Roberto long ball.

Girona, who are co-owned by Manchester City, played five City loanees in the game, with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz impressive in attacking positions.

Pablo Maffeo, in his third season on loan, successfully man-marked Barca’s Lionel Messi, who had scored 11 goals in his previous five games, including four against Eibar on Tuesday.

Barcelona, who had been expected to have a difficult season after losing boss Luis Enrique and striker Neymar, travel to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday. They won their opening group game 3-0 against last season’s finalists Juventus.

There were pro-Catalan independence chants throughout the game at Girona’s 13,000-capacity Montilivi stadium.

Both clubs this week issued statements backing the proposed independence referendum scheduled for 1 October, which the Spanish government is trying to block.

The post Barcelona beat Girona to extend lead appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.