Girona vs Real Madrid summary: Castellanos goals, score, highlights, LaLiga
Girona 4-2 Real Madrid: as it happened
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Carlo Ancelotti appeared before the media after his side's 4-2 defeat.
“We weren’t convincing and when we tried to come back, it was with individuals, but not as a team. The team didn’t play well today,” he said in his post-match press conference.
Castellanos: "It was a dream night"
Taty Castellanos spoke to Movistar after scoring four goals against Real Madrid.
"It was a dream night," he said.
"We played a great game against a great team, one of the best in the world... I never imagined this."
Real Madrid's fixtures
Real Madrid won't have too much time to dwell on this.
After tonight's game, they have Almería at the Bernabéu (Saturday 29) and Real Sociedad (Tuesday 2 May), before playing in the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City.
Madrid lose in Catalonia
It's not the result Los Blancos needed.
They trail Barcelona by 11 points.
FT: Girona 4-2 Real Madrid
Girona are up to 41 points and have almost guaranteed top-flight football for next season.
And there's the final whistle!
Girona have beaten Real Madrid!
There will be three minutes added on!
Madrid need at least two goals!
A night to remember!
Castellanos has become the first player to score four goals in a single LaLiga game against Real Madrid in the 21st century.
Girona clear the inswinger!
Madrid have a corner on the left. A goal now would make for an interesting finish!
Vinícius gets to the byline with more world-class dribbling and sets up Lucas, who slots home from close range. It's 4-2.
Camavinga blocks Arnau's cross from the right as Girona go forward once again.
So a defeat tonight will see Madrid stay 11 points behind Barcelona with the same number of games played (30).
The ball is sent to the back post for Valery, who sends it wide.
That really could have been five!
Ancelotti looks absolutely baffled on the touchline. His side had won their last four games 2-0.
Girona change
OFF Taty Castellanos
ON Cristhian Stuani
Castellanos gets a standing ovation after scoring FOUR goals!
Vinícius can't find a way through and goes over on the edge of the box. Play is waved on. Girona lead 4-1. Yes, 4-1!
Madrid's final ball is poor again.
Asensio crosses straight to Gazzaniga.
Carvajal crosses low from the right. It goes straight to Romeu.
Madrid win it back. Rodrygo looks for a way through and gives it to Militao, who crosses straight into Gazzaniga's hands.
Girona have four, Castellanos has FOUR!
Girona win another corner. The umbrellas are out on a wet night at Montilivi.
Madrid do have time and absolutely do know how to come back.
Arnau dispossesses Vinícius and Girona go forward.
As we approach the hour-mark, Ancelotti is probably considering his next change.
Meanwhile, in la casa de Xavi... he's on the edge of his seat.
Tsygankov looks to play in Castellanos but the latter is unable to take it in and it goes out for a goal-kick.
Camavinga has been one of Madrid's best players this season and has slotted in again at left-back, a position he has admitted is not his best, but he has been excellent there.
Madrid change
OFF Nacho
ON Eduardo Camavinga
Ancelotti is making his first change of the night.
Castellanos heads wide from Riquelme's corner!
He looks invincible right now!
It took Girona 46 seconds in the second half to double their lead!
The ball is played in from the right and Castellanos is right in the middle of the box to slot home first time to score his third of the match. Wow!
Girona get us underway for the second half at Montilivi!
Girona lead at the break!
We've had three goals in the first half and this game is wide-open.
Girona went 2-0 up with a Castellanos brace, before Vinícius headed home from close range for Madrid.
It's all to play for in the second half.
And there's the whistle for the break!
Couto is played in on the right but it's a poor strike that flies well wide of Lunin's goal.
There will be two minutes added on.
Vinícius is properly fired up now.
Arnau has been booked for a foul on Vinícius.
That has been coming...
You feel that there are more goals in this for Madrid. They need to win to keep the pressure on Barcelona, who are 11 points ahead.
Will Girona keep their hold of their lead for half-time?
Riquelme is currently on loan at Girona from Atlético Madrid.
He is quick and has an eye for goal. He also loves to find pockets of space in the half spaces, particularly on the left side of the pitch where he can cut in onto his right foot.
RIQUELME!
He cuts in onto his right foot from the left and fires just over. What a hit that was.
It's a fine cross from Asensio to pick Vinícius out.
It's now GIRONA 2-1 REAL MADRID
GOAL!!!
VINI JR has put the ball in the back of the net.
He heads home from close range at the back post.
Madrid are back in it!
Los Blancos have won their last four games (Chelsea, Cádiz, Chelsea, Celta) 2-0. That record has been broken.
The rain is now coming down in Girona. Madrid have gone close through Valverde, who let fly from distance but it flew low and wide.
So Madrid have it all to do in Catalonia...
And it could be three!
Tsygankov is clean through but sends it over Lunin's goal when it actually looked easier to hit the target.
What a start from the home side!
It's 2-0 at Montilivi and Barcelona are even closer to the league title, as it stands.
The long ball goes in behind the Madrid defence, where Castellanos takes it down on his chest, holds off Militao, and finishes superbly beyond Lunin to double Girona's lead!
GIRONA GO 2-0 UP!
Vinícius is involved again...
This time he goes on a surging run on the left, before eventually picking out Rodrygo, who shoots high and wide.
Ancelotti is telling Vinícius to calm down as the player protests after another challenge from Arnau, who hasn't given him an inch.
Arnau, who turns 20 today, had an impressive game against Madrid in the reverse fixture at the Bernabéu.
Vinícius goes past Arnau on the left and crosses into the box. Girona manage to deal with it. That will be an interesting battle down the Madrid left.
Juanpe blocks Rodrygo's curling shot on the edge of the box.
Let's see how Real Madrid will respond after conceding early.
It's a beautifully worked goal from Girona. After some neat build-up play, Miguel curls it into the box for Castellanos to head home.
Girona take the lead against Real Madrid!
Real Madrid recycle it from left to right and right to left, looking for a way through the home defence.
Kroos picks it up again and curls it to the back post, where Carvajal comes flying in to volley the German's ball.
The side-footed volley is blocked and Girona move out.
Madrid have been patient with the ball thus far.
Asensio sends in a corner from the right. It's headed away. 0-0
The Madrid old guard are back in the engine room today. Modric and Kroos are playing alongside Valverde after being rested in the 2-0 win over Celta at the weekend.
And it turns out that Modric is human. He plays a ball wide and it goes out for a Girona throw-in.
Rodrygo is picking up the main central role in attack, with Benzema being rested.
What a start from Madrid!
Modric crosses low from the left and Rodrgo's flick, which is going in, is blocked on the line.
RODRYGO!
So close!
Real Madrid get us underway at Montilivi!
The teams are out and we're all set!
Both sides will wear their home colours.
The players are making their way from the dressing rooms to the tunnel.
Sell-out at Montilivi
This evening's clash between Girona and Real Madrid is a sell-out, with around 13,000 expected in the ground.
Kick-off is less than 10 minutes away!
It's an early one for a midweek game in Spain.
Girona almost safe
Girona are in 11th place with 38 points and a win over Madrid would practically guarantee them top-flight football for another season.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 40 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | 40 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 |
| 11 | 38 | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| 12 | 38 | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| 13 | 36 | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
Real Madrid are in second place on 65 points. Carlo Ancelotti's men will close the gap on Barcelona to eight points with a win this evening.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | 30 | 24 | 4 | 2 |
| 2 | 65 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 |
| 3 | 60 | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 54 | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 |
| 5 | 48 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 |
Ancelotti makes changes from Celta win
Carlo Ancelotti has made five changes to his XI from the weekend.
The main one is the introduction of Lunin in goal in place of Courtois.
In defence, Carvajal returns at right-back, while in midfield, Modric and Kroos return.
Rodrygo will play in the false 9 role in place Benzema.
Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicíus.
Madrid's record with Lunin
Real Madrid have lost just one of their 11 games with Lunin in goal this season.
Subs
Girona: Juan Carlos, Fuidias, Callens, Bernardo, Valery, Artero, Javi Hernández, Reinier, Stuani.
Real Madrid: Luis López, Mario de Luis, Vallejo, Odriozola, Lucas Vázquez, Mario Martín, Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Arribas, Mariano.
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Iglesias Villanueva has never refereed a Real Madrid match, but he has been responsible for VAR during a Los Blancos game.
This season, there were complaints from the reigning champions against Iglesias Villanueva over a penalty involving David Alaba against Villarreal and also for another penalty for handball by Marco Asensio in the reverse fixture against Girona, which saw the teams draw 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The 40-year-old was born in Pontedeume in the province of La Coruña. In 2007 he made his debut in Segunda División B, where he remained for eleven years. He spent less time in the Segunda División, where he refereed from 2018 until 2022. He is currently enjoying his first season as an official in the top flight.
Lunin starts in goal
Andrey Lunin will start in goal for Real Madrid this evening as Thibaut Courtois is out with gastroenteritis.
The fixture will be his twelfth game of the season. In 2022-23, he has kept four clean sheets and conceded nine goals.
One to Watch: Roro Riquelme
Rodrigo 'Roro' Riquelme came through the youth system at Atlético Madrid and is currently on loan at Girona from Atlético.
He is quick and has an eye for goal as well as personality. Riquelme likes to find pockets of space in the half spaces, particularly on the left side of the pitch where he can cut in onto his right foot.
As well as being technically excellent, he possesses quick feet, a low centre of gravity and is lethal in tight spaces.
We'll be keeping a close eye on him today.
Girona XI
Here's how Míchel's team will line out:
Gazzaniga; Arnau Martínez, Santi Bueno, Juanpe, Miguel Gutiérrez; Oriol Romeu; Tsygankov, Iván Martín, Riquelme, Yan Couto; Taty Castellanos.
Madrid all set
It's a busy period for Ancelotti's men. After Girona, they have Almería at the Bernabéu (Saturday 29, 18:30) and Real Sociedad (Tuesday 2 May, 22:00), before playing in the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City.
Asensio in fine form
Asensio has been impressive for Los Blancos of late.
He recently scored his ninth goal as a substitute in the Champions League, two more than any other player in Champions League history.
Calm before the storm in Catalonia
Kick-off is fast approaching at Montilivi. The players are preparing for this Tuesday fixture and will be out shortly for the warm-ups.
Girona lose to Real Valladolid
Girona lost their last league fixture. The 1-0 defeat came against Real Valladolid and Míchel's side are currently sitting in 11th place in the table.
Rodrygo's role for Madrid
Rodrygo, who was superb in the win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, will start in the false nine role in Benzema’s absence.
Benzema will be rested as Los Blancos prepare for the upcoming matches against Almería, Real Sociedad, Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final and Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals.
The in-form Marco Asensio also starts in the forward line with Rodrygo and Vinícius.
Arnau turns 20
Girona right-back Arnau Martínez turns 20 today and the club made sure to acknowledge it with a tweet earlier today.
Girona head coach Míchel is a huge fan of Arnau, who has been terrific down the right flank this season.
He has demonstrated his great ability to compete, especially against the big teams in LaLiga.
In the reverse fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu, he put in a superb shift, where the Catalan club earned a valuable 1-1 draw, and he nullified Vinícius.
He can operate as a RCB in a 3-man defence, and is fast and agile.
Real Madrid starting XI
Real Madrid will play with the following XI.
Lunin starts in goal for the away side as Courtois is out with gastroenteritis.
And as expected, Benzema has been given a rest.
Montilivi set
We have an earlier-than-usual kick-off time in Girona today. The game gets underway at 19.30pm local time. That's 13.30pm ET.
I'll have the team news from both camps for you as soon as it's in.
Girona vs Real Madrid: welcome!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this LaLiga match between Girona and Real Madrid.