Real Madrid took a big step towards winning this season’s La Liga title on Saturday, as they dismantled nearest challengers Girona 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu – ensuring a 7-0 aggregate scoreline over the two matches to have taken place between the two teams.
It was a ruthless performance from Los Blancos, made all the better by the fact that they ended Girona’s 15-match unbeaten streak in La Liga with the victory, and also the Catalan side’s unbeaten away record in the competition. It was even more impressive considering that they had Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni playing as centre-backs due to the unavailability of Nacho Fernandez and Antonio Rudiger.
Carlo Ancelotti was ecstatic after the match, and he lauded several of his players as being the best in the world, as per Relevo. Vinicius Junior, who was man of the match at the Bernabeu, was singled out as his number one.
“When he plays like this, with this attitude, for me he’s the best player in the world. Jude Bellingham, second; Rodrygo, third; Toni Kroos, fourth; Eduardo Camavinga, fifth; Federico Valverde, sixth.”
You’d be hard pressed to dispute Ancelotti’s sentiments, especially in regards to Vinicius. He may have had a somewhat difficult season so far for Real Madrid due to injury troubles, but his class is permanent.
Don Carlo drank a bit too much champagne after the match: Rodrygo is in no way better than Kroos, Camavinga, or Valverde. In the future he may be, but not today. I suspect Carlo was just trying to pump up Rodrygo to help him take the next step.