90’+4’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Girona 4, Real Madrid 2.90’+3’Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Asensio with a cross.90’+2’SubstitutionSubstitution, Girona. João Pedro Artero replaces Álex Martín.90’+2’Attempt missed. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Marco Asensio.90’+1’Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Asensio with a cross.
Girona striker Valentin Castellanos scored an incredible four goals as they recorded a resounding 4-2 victory over reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid. Castellanos, on loan from New York City, opened the scoring with a header 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. This makes Castellanos the first player in over 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.
Uncapped Argentine Castellanos had played club football in Chile, Uruguay and the United States before joining Girona on a season-long loan last summer – netting seven La Liga goals before this match. Castellanos only touched the ball 15 times, with as many goals as passes attempted, before being replaced in the 71st minute. Real were without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois through gastroenteritis and striker Karim Benzema with a leg injury. The result leaves Real 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, having played a game more, and they will now turn their attention to the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City in two weeks.