MADRID: Antonio Rudiger’s second-half goal earned La Liga leaders Real Madrid a 1-0 home win over Mallorca on Wednesday while shock title challengers Girona snatched a remarkable 4-3 victory over Atletico Madrid to keep pace with the Los Blancos.

Real — who extended their unbeaten league run to 13 games — remained at top of the table with 48 points while Girona maintained their second position with an identical points tally, distinguished by only goal difference.Centre back Rudiger broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as he capitalised on some sloppy defending from Luka Modric’s corner to power a header into the top corner and score his first goal of the season.

“Great cross by Luka, great block by (Dani) Carvajal and luckily it went in,” Rudiger told reporters.

“It was an important goal and three important points for us. This team has a good mix of young and old talent.”

Mallorca had mounted a resilient defensive display and came close to shocking Real with two efforts that hit the woodwork.

Vinicius Jr also went close to scoring on his return to action after being sidelined with an injury but Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic made a superb save to deny the Brazilian.

In Wednesday’s other match, Alvaro Morata hit a hat-trick for Atletico at Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium, but it was not enough as Girona’s Ivan Martin found the top corner at the death to keep the Catalans firmly in the hunt for the title.

Atletico, third, trail both Real and Girona by 10 points.

Valery Fernandez, Savinho and Daley Blind netted for the hosts in a wild first half, with Morata twice scoring for Atletico.

Morata completed his treble early in the second period to pull Atletico level but Martin’s last gasp heroics snatched Girona victory from a compelling clash.

“It’s a historic night for us, for the city, for the province,” Gir­ona coach Michel told Movistar.

Girona could have taken the lead inside the first minute.

Artem Dovbyk fired wide at the near post when well placed, but his team did not have to wait much longer.

Valery curled home in the second minute beyond Jan Oblak with a fine strike from the edge of the area, before Morata pulled Atletico level, staying onside by a whisker.

Girona were quickly back ahead with Savinho netting after 26 minutes, turning home after Oblak parried Martin’s effort.

Blind turned home the third after Aleix Garcia’s cross was cleverly flicked on to the back post by Dovbyk.

Morata completed his hat-trick after the break with the aid of a slight deflection, after being sent through again by De Paul.

The game continued to flow end-to-end before Martin decided it, scrapping for an inch of space inside the area and prodding a finish into the top corner, with Oblak only able to watch as Girona’s dream grew bigger still.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2024