Girona striker Valentin Castellanos scored four times as they recorded a resounding victory over reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid.
Castellanos, on loan from New York City, headed the opener and then ran onto a long ball before slotting past Real’s Andriy Lunin to make it 2-0.
Vincius Jr gave Real hope with a header from Marco Asensio’s cross.
But Castellanos, 24, tucked in a cross from Yan Couto and headed a fourth – before Lucas Vazquez’s consolation.
Real are 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, having played a game more. They play Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final first leg in two weeks.
Castellanos is the first player in more than 75 years to score four goals in a La Liga game against Real Madrid. In December 1947, Esteban Echaverria netted five for Real Oviedo against Madrid.
Argentine Castellanos, 24, only touched the ball 15 times, with as many goals as passes attempted, before being replaced in the 71st minute. He has now scored 11 La Liga goals this season.
Real were without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois through gastroenteritis and striker Karim Benzema with a leg injury.
Who is Castellanos?
Taty Castellanos, to use his commonly used nickname, is on loan to Girona from New York City – both sister clubs of Manchester City.
The season-long loan does not have the option for Girona to make it permanent.
It was reported that nobody bid the £12m ($15m) NYC wanted last summer so they decided his value might go up after a season in one of Europe’s top leagues.
He won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot with 19 goals in 32 games and is the second youngest player to hit 50 MLS goals.
The uncapped Argentine had played his club football in Chile and Uruguay before joining NYC in 2018.
Line-ups
Girona
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 13Gazzaniga
- 4MartinezBooked at 43mins
- 22Bueno
- 15Ramírez López
- 3GutiérrezSubstituted forHernández Cabreraat 89′minutes
- 18Romeu
- 20Couto
- 8TsygankovSubstituted forFernándezat 72′minutes
- 23MartínSubstituted forArteroat 90+2′minutes
- 17RiquelmeSubstituted forCarvalhoat 89′minutes
- 9CastellanosSubstituted forStuaniat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Martín
- 2Bernardo
- 7Stuani
- 11Fernández
- 16Hernández Cabrera
- 19Carvalho
- 25Callens
- 26Fuidias
- 36Artero
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Lunin
- 2Carvajal RamosSubstituted forVázquezat 79′minutes
- 3MilitãoBooked at 65mins
- 22Rüdiger
- 6NachoSubstituted forCamavingaat 52′minutes
- 15Valverde
- 8Kroos
- 10ModricSubstituted forTchouaméniat 63′minutes
- 11Asensio
- 21RodrygoSubstituted forMarianoat 79′minutes
- 20Vinícius JúniorBooked at 37mins
Substitutes
- 5Vallejo
- 12Camavinga
- 16Odriozola
- 17Vázquez
- 18Tchouaméni
- 24Mariano
- 26López Andúgar
- 31Martín
- 33Arribas
- 43de Luis
- Referee:
- Javier Iglesias Villanueva
- Attendance:
- 13,306
Live Text
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Match ends, Girona 4, Real Madrid 2.
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Second Half ends, Girona 4, Real Madrid 2.
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Foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid).
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Cristhian Stuani (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Girona. Santiago Bueno tries a through ball, but Valery Fernández is caught offside.
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Substitution, Girona. Ricard Artero replaces Iván Martín.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Juanpe.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Yan Couto.
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Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a cross.
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Substitution, Girona. Reinier replaces Rodrigo Riquelme.
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Substitution, Girona. Javi Hernández replaces Miguel Gutiérrez.
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Goal! Girona 4, Real Madrid 2. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
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Attempt missed. Mariano Díaz (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross.
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Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Dani Carvajal.
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Substitution, Real Madrid. Mariano Díaz replaces Rodrygo.
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Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Arnau Martinez (Girona).
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Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
