Real reclaim top spot with 3-0 win at Girona

Real Madrid outclassed Girona 3-0 on Saturday to return to the top of the LaLiga standings, thanks to goals from Joselu, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham.

Real moved on to 21 points from eight games, one ahead of Barcelona, who beat Sevilla 1-0 at home on Friday. Girona dropped to third, reports reuters.

Girona made a strong start and could have scored twice in the first five minutes, as Yangel Herrera directed a header over the bar from close range before Viktor Tsyhankov headed an effort onto the post.

After weathering the hosts' dominant opening spell, Real took the lead in the 17th minute through Joselu's simple finish following Bellingham's delightful cross with the outside of his foot.

Tchouameni doubled Real's lead four minutes later when he cleverly wriggled free of his marker before rising highest to head Toni Kroos's corner into the net.

Bellingham should have scored in the 28th minute after he raced clear on goal, but his tame effort was excellently kept out by Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Kroos also tested Gazzaniga just before halftime, letting fly with a spectacular volley that was tipped over the bar by the Argentine.

Girona did not give up and continued to push forward after the break, almost scoring when Aleix Garcia crossed for Herrera, whose downward header bounced up and over the bar.

Their resistance was snuffed out in the 71st minute when Joselu's looping pass found Bellingham, who deftly steered home a volley to score his seventh goal in all competitions for Real and wrap up the win._Agencies.