Real Madrid 2-0 Girona: Luka Modric screamer helps Los Blancos move level with Barcelona at top of La Liga

Real Madrid secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Girona at the Bernabeu to go level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

The visitors defended stubbornly in the first half but were eventually breached by a stunning effort from Luka Modric, who latched onto a clearance, waited for the ball to drop and drilled a sumptuous half-volley into the top corner.

A 1-0 lead was always likely to be precarious, though, and there was a sense of nervousness heading into the latter stages. But Vinicius Junior scored his ninth league goal of the season, poking home having been played through by Kylian Mbappe, whose assist took his total goal contributions to 20 in La Liga.

Real Madrid started the game brightly, with Mbappe and Vinicius a constant threat for a Girona side on a poor run of form. This was a third successive league defeat for Michel's team.

Mbappe tested Paulo Gazzaniga in the opening stages, and there were glimpses of goal for Vinicius soon after.

At the other end, former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek was denied by an excellent Thibaut Courtois save having found space in the box. That was a rare opportunity for the visitors, who quickly found themselves on the back foot again.

Girona largely defended well, though, until the moment of sheer quality from Modric, who turns 40 in September. The indefatigable Croatian showed no sign of deterioration as he struck his shot with frightening power and precision.

That sent Real Madrid into the break on a high, and when they came back out they were lively, Mbappe flashing an effort just wide and Aurelien Tchouameni heading a free-kick over the bar.

Girona occasionally threatened to do some damage on the break but the final ball was lacking, and they were continually forced back by a Los Blancos side with so much devastating pace in attack.

And that extra speed proved decisive in the end as Mbappe spotted the run of Vinicius, sliding the Brazilian through with 83 minutes on the clock. He made no mistake, directing his finish coolly past the goalkeeper and sealing victory for Real Madrid.

They move onto 54 points, level with Barcelona, who won 2-0 at Las Palmas yesterday. Atletico Madrid - who will play Real Madrid in a blockbuster UEFA Champions League last 16 tie, live on TNT Sports next month - are just one point behind in third after beating Valencia 3-0 on Saturday.

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, as well as exclusive Premier League games across the 2024-25 season.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

Real Madrid are 2-0 winners over Girona. Luka Modric's first-half screamer and Vinicius Junior's late finish are enough for victory, and Carlo Ancelotti's side move level on 54 points with La Liga leaders Barcelona. An enthralling title race continues...

Real Madrid are in cruise control now. Girona's resistance has been broken and the points look secure. Into added time at the Bernabeu.

And it's Vinicius Junior. Mbappe is the creator, threading a ball through to the Brazilian, who pokes his finish past Gazzaniga. That should be game over.

Girona are committing more players forward as we enter the final 10 minutes, and that means space for Real Madrid to break. Mbappe is set clear and fires off a shot on his left foot, but Gazzaniga saves.

Real Madrid had looked likely to get the second and probably decisive goal, but Girona have grown into the contest over the last few minutes, venturing into the hosts' half. It could be a nervy finish for Los Blancos.

A Real Madrid free-kick is sent into the box by Modric and Tchouameni directs a header narrowly over the bar. Still 1-0 Real Madrid with just over 20 minutes left.

A Real Madrid corner is cleared and the visitors look to spring a counter-attack. The ball is eventually worked to Arnaut Danjuma, whose shot goes wide.

Mbappe finds Vazquez just outside the box, and the latter sends a shot flashing past the post.

Real Madrid have started the second half on the front foot, looking for a goal that would leave Girona with a mountain to climb. The hosts win a corner, which is well defended.

The half-time break has come and gone. The players are back out at the Bernabeu. Can Real Madrid move level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona?

Modric breaks the deadlock in emphatic fashion with what is surely one of the goals of the season!

The Croatian chests down the ball and unleashes an unstoppable right-footed volley past Gazzaniga to give Ancelotti's side the lead.

It certainly hasn't been one-way traffic here, with Donny van de Beek denied by a big hand by Courtois.

Arnaut Danjuma has looked a real threat down Girona's right, and tees up Tsyhankov, who blazes his shot over the bar moments later.

It hasn't quite cleared into gear yet for Ancelotti's side, in what is a rather subdued Bernabeu.

Modric tees up Rodrygo from a corner, whose effort takes a deflection off David Alaba before going wide.

Ancelotti's men have increased their intensity at certain points in this contest.

Gazzaniga keeps out a driven strike from Brahim Diaz, before Luka Modric flashes an effort over the bar moments later.

Vinicius Junior is a constant threat down that left-hand side, and maneuvers his way past Arnau, but his subsequent cross doesn't find a Real team-mate.

The visitors look threatening on the break, as Viktor Tsyhankov's effort takes a deflection before going wide.

Courtois punches a clearance from the resulting corner.

Real are biding their time in a bid to break down a stubborn Girona defence.

The Catalans are almost caught out by the pace of Mbappe on the left as he picks out Vinicius Junior, but the Brazilian heads over the bar.

Real break forward from the resulting Girona corner, and Paulo Gazzaniga is called into action to deny Kylian Mbappe.

First chance for the France captain this afternoon.