Beat Granada, Real Madrid Keep Pace with Girona in LaLiga
Written by Reananda Hidayat PermonoCompleted Master of Science - MS, Petroleum Geology from Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Two goals from Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo were enough to give Real Madrid a comfortable 2-0 win over Granada at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The win on a chilly evening in the Spanish capital takes Madrid to the top of the La Liga on 38 points.
Girona, who beat Valencia 2-1 earlier, stays in the second place due to goal difference.
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are third and fourth with 31 points; both will meet on Sunday.
Granada, who are in 19th place on seven points, posed no threat to Real Madrid.
The host team showed no sign of weakness despite missing multiple starters due to injuries.
Madrid even dominated the game and had 71% of ball possessions, while Granada didn’t get any shot on goal.
Diaz scored the first goal in the 26th minute after playing a clean one-two with Toni Kroos.
The German midfielder’s pass beat the offside trap and Diaz calmly fired the ball past goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.
Diaz showed up again in the 57th minute to win the challenge and cross the ball to Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham’s strike was brilliantly denied by Fernandez, though. But Rodrygo was well-positioned at the far post and unleashed a bullet strike to give the second goal for Real Madrid.
Madrid will visit Real Betis for the next match of La Liga.