The Gossip

Girona trails Real Madrid by a single point, while Real Madrid will be hosting Atletico Madrid, who currently holds the fourth position, on Sunday.

On Saturday, Ilkay Gundogan orchestrated a goal for Robert Lewandowski and also scored one himself, propelling 10-man Barcelona to a 3-1 victory against Alaves in the Spanish league.

Girona, who secured the second position, failed to seize the opportunity to regain the top spot as they were unable to score any goals against Real Sociedad in their home match. In a disappointing turn of events, Girona’s coach, Míchel Sánchez, was shown a red card in the 89th minute, seemingly due to his excessive protests.

Girona trails Real Madrid by just one point, while Real Madrid will be hosting Atletico Madrid, who currently holds the fourth position, on Sunday.

Barcelona had already taken a 3-1 lead when Vitor Roque, a substitute player who scored the third goal for the visitors, was shown a red card in the 72nd minute for receiving two quick yellow cards.

This victory marks Barcelona’s second consecutive win since Xavi Hernández announced that he will not continue as coach after this season, following their 5-3 defeat at home against Villarreal last weekend. After that disappointing match, Hernández had expressed that his players lacked the necessary “maturity” to defend their lead and compete throughout the entire game.

However, following their comfortable victory in Vitoria, Xavi commended his team for their exceptional display, which he described as “mature” and well-rounded.

According to Xavi, “My team exhibited a level of maturity during the game. They demonstrated their ability to compete, especially on a challenging field that demands unwavering focus for the entire 90 minutes. I am content with the team’s response, as it aligns with my expectations.”

In addition to their triumph in Vitoria, Barcelona secured a 1-0 league victory over Osasuna midweek, courtesy of Roque’s first goal since joining the team last month.

Lewandowski put an end to his six-round goal drought by cleverly chipping the goalkeeper after receiving a precise through ball from Gundogan, securing the opening goal in the 22nd minute.

Following a close call from Alaves to equalize towards the end of the first half, Gundogan showcased his skill by volleying in a lofted pass from Pedri González at the far post, extending the lead in the 49th minute.

Samuel Omorodion, the striker for Alaves, swiftly responded to Gundogan’s goal by scoring a header in the 51st minute.

However, Roque, who substituted for Gundogan, managed to score for the second consecutive game in the 63rd minute, securing the victory and leaving the visitors with one less player.

Barcelona, currently in third place, closed the gap to Madrid by seven points.

Although other players found the back of the net, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal once again stood out as the team’s most creative and penetrating attacking player, showcasing his exceptional footwork and dribbling skills from the right flank.

“Robert is our main goal scorer. He may go through difficult periods and feel like he has lost his touch, but he proved to be crucial for us today,” Xavi commented on Lewandowski, while also praising Yamal.

Xavi praised Lamine as an exceptional talent, emphasizing his all-round abilities and highlighting his dedication towards the team.

Valencia secured a 2-1 victory against Almeria, with goals from Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuk. This win further extends Almeria’s winless streak to 23 rounds, leaving them at the bottom of the table.