Spanish La Liga
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Girona 4-2 Real Madrid: Valentin Castellanos scores four in La Liga surprise

By Emlyn BegleyBBC Sport
Valentin Castellanos scores for Girona
Valentin Castellanos scored with four of his six shots against Real Madrid

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.

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.

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.

Who is Castellanos?

Taty Castellanos, to use his commonly used nickname, is on loan to Girona from New York City - both sister clubs of Manchester City.

The season-long loan does not have the option for Girona to make it permanent.

It was reported that nobody bid the £12mexternal-link ($15m) NYC wanted last summer so they decided his value might go up after a season in one of Europe's top leagues.

He won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot with 19 goals in 32 games and is the second youngest player to hit 50 MLS goals.

The uncapped Argentine had played his club football in Chile and Uruguay before joining NYC in 2018.

Line-ups

Girona

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 13Gazzaniga
  • 4MartinezBooked at 43mins
  • 22Bueno
  • 15Ramírez López
  • 3GutiérrezSubstituted forHernández Cabreraat 89'minutes
  • 18Romeu
  • 20Couto
  • 8TsygankovSubstituted forFernándezat 72'minutes
  • 23MartínSubstituted forArteroat 90+2'minutes
  • 17RiquelmeSubstituted forCarvalhoat 89'minutes
  • 9CastellanosSubstituted forStuaniat 72'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Martín
  • 2Bernardo
  • 7Stuani
  • 11Fernández
  • 16Hernández Cabrera
  • 19Carvalho
  • 25Callens
  • 26Fuidias
  • 36Artero

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

  • 13Lunin
  • 2Carvajal RamosSubstituted forVázquezat 79'minutes
  • 3MilitãoBooked at 65mins
  • 22Rüdiger
  • 6NachoSubstituted forCamavingaat 52'minutes
  • 15Valverde
  • 8Kroos
  • 10ModricSubstituted forTchouaméniat 63'minutes
  • 11Asensio
  • 21RodrygoSubstituted forMarianoat 79'minutes
  • 20Vinícius JúniorBooked at 37mins

Substitutes

  • 5Vallejo
  • 12Camavinga
  • 16Odriozola
  • 17Vázquez
  • 18Tchouaméni
  • 24Mariano
  • 26López Andúgar
  • 31Martín
  • 33Arribas
  • 43de Luis
Referee:
Javier Iglesias Villanueva
Attendance:
13,306

Match Stats

Home TeamGironaAway TeamReal Madrid
Possession
Home28%
Away72%
Shots
Home13
Away18
Shots on Target
Home5
Away3
Corners
Home3
Away8
Fouls
Home7
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Girona 4, Real Madrid 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Girona 4, Real Madrid 2.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid).

  4. Post update

    Cristhian Stuani (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Offside, Girona. Santiago Bueno tries a through ball, but Valery Fernández is caught offside.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, Girona. Ricard Artero replaces Iván Martín.

  7. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  8. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).

  9. Post update

    Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Juanpe.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Yan Couto.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a cross.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Girona. Reinier replaces Rodrigo Riquelme.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Girona. Javi Hernández replaces Miguel Gutiérrez.

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Girona 4, Real Madrid 2. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mariano Díaz (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Toni Kroos.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Dani Carvajal.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Real Madrid. Mariano Díaz replaces Rodrygo.

  18. Post update

    Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Arnau Martinez (Girona).

  20. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Tuesday 25th April 2023

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Barcelona3024425494576
2Real Madrid31205665283765
3Atl Madrid30186647222560
4Real Sociedad31167839291055
5Real Betis31147103933649
6Villarreal30145113930947
7Ath Bilbao301371042301246
8Osasuna31128112932-344
9Girona31118124845341
10Rayo Vallecano301010103636040
11Mallorca30117122931-240
12Sevilla30108123745-838
13Celta Vigo3099123642-636
14Real Valladolid30105152648-2235
15Cádiz31711132343-2032
16Getafe30710132839-1131
17Almería3086163652-1630
18Valencia3086163236-430
19Espanyol30610143549-1428
20Elche3027212061-4113
View full Spanish La Liga table

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