Brilliant Real Madrid thump Girona in top-of-the-table contest

Girona would have moved back to the summit with a victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Spanish capital, but the home side proved to be far too strong for the White and Reds.

Jude Bellingham scored twice, while Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo also registered, and it proved to be a game to forget for Michel's side, who were second-best all game.

Real Madrid have now beaten Girona twice this season, and it was a dominant performance from the capital giants, who are also now 11 points clear of third-placed Barcelona.

Antonio Rudiger failed to recover from a thigh problem, which meant that the returning Aurelien Tchouameni lined up in central defence alongside Dani Carvajal, but there was positive news on the injury front in the final third of the field, with Vinicius overcoming a neck issue to start.

Vinicius needed just six minutes to make his mark at Bernabeu, with the Brazil international working his way to towards the Girona box before picking out the far corner with a wonderful strike.

Real Madrid were firmly on the front foot, with another opportunity coming in the 23rd minute, this time for Federico Valverde, but his free kick from the edge of the box was saved by Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Bellingham then tried his luck in the 33rd minute, but the England international's attempt from distance missed the post, with Los Blancos firmly in control of the top-of-the-table contest.

Ancelotti's side netted their second of the match in the 35th minute, with Bellingham on the scoresheet; Vinicius's excellent pass released the England international, and he rounded the Girona goalkeeper before finding the back of the net to hand the hosts a two-goal advantage.

Bellingham had a chance to put the match beyond Girona in the final moments of the first period, but he missed the target from the edge of the box.

The ex-Birmingham City youngster did score a second in the 54th minute, though, converting from close range after Girona's goalkeeper had kept out a strike from Vinicius.

Real Madrid added a fourth in the 61st minute, with Rodrygo racing towards the Girona box before firing one into the far corner of the net, with the match ending as a contest just past the hour.

Girona's form has been one of the stories of the season in Spain's top flight, but they were simply unable to match Real Madrid, who had another chance in the 83rd minute through Brahim Diaz, only for the Spaniard to miss the target from a dangerous area.

Yan Couto missed the target for the visitors late on, before Joselu failed to convert a late penalty after a poor challenge from Couto on Arda Guler, and Real Madrid ultimately declared at four on a brilliant night for the capital side.

Real Madrid will now switch their attention to the Champions League, preparing to head to Germany for the first leg of their last-16 contest with RB Leipzig, while Girona will be looking to get their La Liga title challenge back on track when they travel to Athletic Bilbao on February 19.