Real Madrid Secures Narrow Victory, Girona Beats Atletico in Spanish League Midseason Standings

Real Madrid and Girona maintained their impressive form, concluding the first half of the Spanish league season atop the standings with 48 points each after 19 games. Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory against Mallorca, while Girona triumphed 4-3 over Atletico Madrid.

With Atletico Madrid trailing by 10 points in third place, Real Madrid holds the top position based on a tiebreaker. Barcelona has the opportunity to narrow the gap to seven points if it wins against Las Palmas on Thursday.

In the match against Mallorca, Real Madrid clinched a late 1-0 win at home with Antonio Rüdiger scoring the decisive goal, marking the return of Vinícius Júnior from injury.

Girona, the season's surprise team, continued its stellar performance by defeating Atletico Madrid 4-3. Iván Martín scored the winning goal in stoppage time. Álvaro Morata netted a hat trick for Atletico, while Griezmann remained tied with Luis Aragonés as the club's all-time top scorer.

Girona showcased resilience, overcoming Atletico and affirming its status as a genuine title contender. Martín's left-footed shot secured the win in the final moments after a thrilling encounter that ended 4-3. Valery Fernández, Savinho, and Daley Blind contributed to Girona's other goals at Montilivi Stadium.

Under coach Míchel, Girona boasts the league's best attack with 46 goals, four more than Real Madrid. The team has 15 wins, three draws, and a sole loss against Madrid. With a 13-match unbeaten streak since September, Girona defeated defending champion Barcelona 4-2 last month.

Vinícius Júnior returned to action after an absence of almost two months, contributing to Real Madrid's unbeaten streak of 18 matches in all competitions. Rüdiger's header from a corner kick by Luka Modric secured the crucial 1-0 victory.

Girona's Martín expressed determination, stating, "We are close to securing a European place, but we have to keep this momentum and try to win as many points as possible. Then at the end of the season, we'll see where we are."

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti welcomed back Vinícius Júnior and Dani Carvajal but faced challenges with key players' long-term knee injuries, including Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Éder Militão. Mallorca, coached by Javier Aguirre, remained in 14th place, four points clear of the relegation zone, despite hitting the woodwork twice at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.