This is Real life. In the hours before this unlikely title decider, posters had gone up near the Santiago Bernabéu declaring that Girona are forever dreaming but instead there was an awakening. Carlo Ancelotti had insisted that, with 14 games left, whatever happened here the title race was not run, but by the end here it was hard not to see this as definitive. Not just because Real Madrid beat their nearest and most unexpected rivals for La Liga to go five points clear at the top, but the way they did it.
Two goals from Jude Bellingham and one each from Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo delivered a statement to go with the victory. Girona have been superb this season but when it came to it, Madrid were just too good. Vinícius in particular was, his compatriot and opponent Yan Couto left in tears at full time. Girona have been beaten just twice; both times by Real Madrid. The aggregate score: 7-0. 3-0 in Catalonia, it was 4-0 back here in the capital, the rebellion crushed virtually from the start. Even Joselu missing a penalty with the last kick didn’t matter; this had long been over.