Real Madrid vs Girona 2019 (RMA-Girona 2019)
Final score and result:- Real Madrid vs Girona 1-2 (Casemiro/Stuani pen, Portu)
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid- 17 February, 2019
Upset at the Bernabeu as Girona come from behind to upset Real Madrid
Girona gained three priceless points in their fight against the drop they upset Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. With their win, the Catalan side also did neighbours Barcelona a favour, with Real falling out of the top two and now nine points behind the Blaugrana in the league table.
Girona had upset Real Madrid 2-1 at home 15 months ago, and this game pretty much followed the pattern of that one- Real taking the lead with a first half goal and Girona coming from behind after the interval to produce a stunning victory. The goal scorers today for the Blanquivermells were the same as 2017- Christian Stuani and Portu.
With Real having been given a real game by Ajax in the Champions League in midweek, Santiago Solari chose to mix things up a bit, bringing back the likes of Marcelo, Dani Ceballos and Asensio into the XI. Girona, after all, were a side that hadn’t won in their last 13 games, and came into this fixture on the back of six straight defeats.
However there had been warning signs for Real in Amsterdam, and some cheeky punters, like yours truly, used ComeOn voucher codes in the anticipation of Girona taking points off Los Blancos. And they weren’t disappointed, with the visitors producing a stirring second half performance to claim a famous win at the Bernabeu.
Real took the lead in the 25th minute through Casemiro, with Toni Kroos’ inch perfect cross finding the Brazilian midfielder, who nodded in from close range. Girona’s central defenders Alcala and Juanpe were caught ball watching, with Casemiro right between the duo.
Stuani could’ve had a penalty in the opening minutes of the game if he had chosen to take a tumble, but he did get an opportunity to level things from 12 yards out shortly after the hour mark. The Uruguayan’s first time header had Thibault Courtois beaten, but rebounded off the post. Douglas’ follow up effort took a deflection off Ramos and referee Guillermo Cuadra pointed to the spot. Stuani, ever so reliable, made no mistake with his spot kick and Girona were level.
Casemiro and Odriozola gave away the ball cheaply a few minutes later and Girona pounced again. The ball made its way to substitute Anthony Lozano, whose curled effort was parried away by Courtois. Unfortunately, it fell right into the path of Portu, who headed in from close range, with Marcelo too late to react. If there was an example of why Sergio Reguilon has replaced the Brazilian in the XI, this was it.
Real pressed for an equaliser, but in vain. Even worse, they lost Ramos to a second yellow, and finished the game with ten men.
Real Madrid Girona 1-0 (Casemiro goal vs Girona 26′)
Real Madrid v Girona 1-1 (Stuani penalty vs Real Madrid 63′)
Real Madrid vs Girona 1-2 (Portu goal vs Real Madrid 75′)
RMA v Girona 2019 attendance:- 68,099 (Referee- Cuadra)