Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and Luka Modric scored for Real Madrid, helping the team regain a one-point lead against Girona – the team that plays the latest round of 17 to host Alaves on Monday. Real Madrid are seven points ahead of third-placed Barcelona after the defending champions only drew 1-1 with Valencia on Saturday. Striker Rodrygo said: “Creating distance with Barcelona is always a good thing. But seven points is not much, there is still a lot of tournament left. We have to keep this mindset and keep trying to win every game.”

David Alaba needed help as he left the field at the Santiago Bernabeu just after more than half an hour of play. The Austrian defender’s left knee buckled after an attempt to steal the ball near midfield, he fell down and immediately called for help while holding his knee. Alaba could not put weight on his left leg, and was carried off the field in the 34th minute. This may be the latest serious knee injury to happen to Real Madrid’s stars this season. Coach Ancelotti has been without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Eder Militao since the beginning of the tournament because of serious knee problems. “He was very sad at halftime,” Rodrygo said. We have to wait for testing but that’s what worries us.”

Bellingham and Rodrygo continued their good scoring form to help Real Madrid take a 2-0 lead at half-time. Bellingham scored his 7th goal in his last 9 matches – his 13th goal in La Liga, helping him continue to lead the top scorer race – with a header after a pass from Modric in the 25th minute, and Rodrygo added another goal. took the lead in the 37th minute – the 5th goal in the last 6 matches. Diaz scored the third goal in the 64th minute after a beautiful run that started near the halfway line, he beat two defenders before scoring inside the box. Modric closed the score with another shot from inside the penalty area in the 68th minute.

Villarreal was the last team to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with a 3-2 win last season – also Real Madrid’s only loss in the last 31 home matches. But this time, a depressed Villarreal could only find a consolation goal from Jose Luis Morales in the 54th minute. Villarreal did not win in 3 consecutive matches and dropped to 14th place. The Yellow Submarine has lost 9 matches after 17 rounds of La Liga matches so far, their worst run at this point of the season.

6th ranked Real Sociedad experienced an unlucky match, seeing 3 goals disallowed and 2 balls hitting the target in a 0-0 draw at home against 7th ranked Real Betis. That was Sociedad’s 9th consecutive match without losing in all competitions, and the 3rd consecutive draw against Real Betis of coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Cadiz’s winless streak in La Liga extended to 13 after a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas. Cadiz, who equalized thanks to Chris Ramos’ goal in the 83rd minute, is just one point away from the relegation zone. Las Palmas is currently ranked 9th.

Almeria drew 0-0 with Mallorca at home to continue to be the only team without a win after 17 rounds of La Liga. The club owned by Saudi Arabian investors has 5 draws and 12 losses. They are 8 points behind the first team outside the relegation zone. While Mallorca is unbeaten in 5 consecutive matches in all competitions, and is ranked 15th.