CADIZ: Real Madrid’s Rodrygo struck twice and Jude Bellingham was also on target as the visitors enjoyed a 3-0 win at lowly Cadiz in La Liga on Sunday to move provisionally top of the standings.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are now on 35 points, one clear of second-placed Girona who host Athletic Bilbao late on Monday.

Atletico Madrid are third, having also played a game less than Real, level on 31 points with Barcelona, who slipped to fourth after a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

“It’s an important moment in the season,” Ancelotti told a news conference. “We have some very important games until Christmas. Today’s game gives me a lot of confidence for the next matches.

“So far this season we have done very well, the team has always been competitive, we have won a lot of games.”

The injuries on international duty of France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Brazil forward Vinicius Jr did not seem to affect Real, who went ahead after 14 minutes when Rodrygo cut into the area and fired a superb shot into the top right corner.Brazilian winger Rodrygo got his second goal in the 64th minute with another

fine shot after finding space in the box before Bellingham sealed the win 10 minutes later with his 11th league goal of

the season.“Sometimes difficulty is just more motivation and the players understood that very well,” Ancelotti told reporters.

Earlier Sunday, Mar­celino Garcia Toral enjoyed a comfortable win on his return to La Liga management with Villarreal, with Jose Luis Morales’ hat-trick sinking Osasuna 3-1.

Real Sociedad, fifth, earned a 2-1 win at Sevilla, who had Sergio Ramos and Jesus Navas sent off.

Veteran defender Ramos’s dismissal was the 29th red card of his career, and a record-extending 21st in La

Liga.Willian Jose’s goal helped Real Betis, seventh, edge Las Palmas 1-0 to pull level with Athletic Bilbao, sixth, on 24 points.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023