Real Madrid strengthens its lead in La Liga, and Atletico tightens the noose on Girona sports

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Leader Real Madrid is preparing well for its arduous trip to Manchester City Stadium next Wednesday, by defeating its host Real Mallorca 1-0 on Saturday in the 31st round of the Spanish Football League, maintaining the 8-point difference that separates it from its rival Barcelona.

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team owes its 24th win in the league this season to Frenchman Aurelien Chouamini, who scored the only goal of the match with a wonderful shot. With this result, the Royal Club raised its score to 78 points in the lead, 11 points behind Barcelona, ​​awaiting the latter’s match with its host Cadiz later on Saturday.

A daunting task awaits Real Madrid on Wednesday in England after being content with a 3-3 draw at home with defending champion Manchester City in the first leg of the quarter-finals, especially after what happened last season when the two teams tied in the semi-finals 1-1 in Madrid, before the Royal Club suffered a defeat. Humiliating return in Manchester 0-4.

Ancelotti decided to make five substitutions for the squad that faced City in the first leg, leaving Brazilians Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo, German Toni Kroos, Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal on the bench, which witnessed the presence of Brazilian defender Eder Militao, returning after a very long absence due to injury (he participated in the final seconds).

Ancelotti made these substitutions despite the importance of avoiding a repeat of last season’s scenario when his team lost 0-1 at Mallorca, especially since the Royal Club will host Barcelona next Sunday, immediately after its very arduous visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Mexican coach Javier Aguirre’s team is still in a critical situation at the league level, as it is threatened even by its 15th place, only 6 points ahead of the relegation zone.

The first half ended in a goalless draw, then Real began the second with a long shot from Bellingham, which the goalkeeper excelled in blocking (47), before Frenchman Aurelien Chouamini decided to test his luck from afar with a ball that found its way into the upper left corner of Serbian Predrag Rajkovic’s goal, giving the royal guest the lead.

Atletico Madrid win

French international Antoine Griezmann led his team, Atletico Madrid, to tighten the pressure on its guest, Girona III, by defeating them in a summit match 3-1.

With its second win in a row, “Colchoneros” raised its score to 61 points, compared to 65 for Girona, which returned to its fluctuating results after a historic start to the season for the humble team. Atletico also moved away from the race to qualify for the Champions League, temporarily 5 points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

The Catalan team opened the scoring through its Ukrainian star, Artem Dubvik, from close range (4). However, Argentine coach Diego Simeone’s squad rose up, as Griezmann equalized from a penalty kick after a handball on Miguel Gutierrez (34).

Before the end of the first half, Argentine Angel Correa gave the capital team the lead for the first time with a header from close range (45 + 6), before Griezmann planted the reassuring goal with a right shot from the center of the area, achieving the double (50).
Griezmann raised his tally this season to 21 goals and 8 assists in the 41 matches he played in all competitions, one goal ahead of Englishman Jude Bellingham, the new star for Real Madrid, Polish Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, and his Atletico teammate Alvaro Morata.

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