Mueez Ajao
– Girona striker Valentin Castellanos scored four times as they recorded a resounding victory over reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid.
– Castellanos, on loan from New York City, headed the opener 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.
Also Read: Madrid beat Celta Vigo to keep the pressure
– But Castellanos, 24, tucked in a cross from Yan Couto and headed a fourth – before Lucas Vazquez’s consolation.
– Real are 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, having played a game more. They play Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final first leg in two weeks.
– Castellanos is the first player in more than 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.
♠♣♥♦ Poker de a̶s̶e̶s̶ 𝔾𝕆𝕃𝔼𝕊.
🔝 ¡Recital de @tatycaste11anos en el #GironaRealMadrid!#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/cLRBftTxvG
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) April 25, 2023
– Argentine Castellanos, 24, only touched the ball 15 times, with as many goals as passes attempted, before being replaced in the 71st minute. He has now scored 11 La Liga goals this season.
– Real were without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois through gastroenteritis and striker Karim Benzema with a leg injury.
FT: #GironaRealMadrid 4-2
𝐈𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢 𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫!#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/aAgpelhej9
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 25, 2023
