European soccer news: Madrid outclass Girona, Leverkusen defeat Bayern

With all the attention on soccer in Las Vegas this weekend, other soccer in Europe's top five leagues was packed with plenty of huge matches that could decide titles and also set the table to see how teams will prepare for European competitions . with the UEFA Champions League and Europa League returning after this weekend.

In Spain, we saw Real Madrid bring Girona back down to earth with a 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. Meanwhile, in Germany we saw Bayer Leverkusen continue their unbeaten run at the top of the Bundesliga after an impressive 3-0 win over Bayern Munich, and in France Paris Saint-Germain beat Lille 3-1 to stay at the top of Ligue 1.

Here's what else you missed in European football this weekend.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga and more (US)

SATURDAY REVIEW

Leading: Real Madrid beat Girona to send message in La Liga title race

Jude Bellingham didn't last an hour at the Bernabeu, but it was more than enough. By the time the midfielder limped off in the 57th minute due to an ankle problem, Real Madrid were leading 3-0 against title rivals Girona. Bellingham had scored two, bringing his total for the season to 20 goals. The game was over, and maybe the race for the La Liga title was too.

The match billed as a title decider between the league's two best teams finished Real Madrid 4-0 Girona. Brazilians Vinícius Júnior – who was exceptional – and Rodrygo opened and completed the scoring, either side of Bellingham's double. It was a decisive victory for Madrid, a victory that said: “Is this all you have?” Right now in this league, no other team comes close. Not even Girona.

Real Madrid are now five points clear at the top of the La Liga table. There are still 14 games left to play, and plenty of room for more twists and turns along the way. But after such a comprehensive victory against their closest rivals – Girona failed to manage a single shot on target in 90 minutes – the feeling leaving the Bernabeu was that only one team could win La Liga this season.

Madrid led from the sixth minute, Vini giving them the lead with a curling shot out of nowhere. In the 35th minute Bellingham made it 2-0, Vinicius being the passer this time, Bellingham rounding goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and finishing from a tight angle. Any hopes Girona had of fighting in the second half were extinguished in the 54th minute, with Bellingham scoring from close range after Vinicius's run. By then, the England midfielder was already feeling his ankle and was replaced shortly after. Four minutes later, Rodrygo made it 4-0, as Girona collapsed. Joselu even had time to miss a late penalty by hitting the post.

Madrid's comfort was all the more surprising as they entered this match without a single fit central defender after Antonio Rüdiger joined Nacho, David Alaba and Éder Militão on the bench. An improvised partnership of Dani Carvajal and Aurélien Tchouaméni has never been tested. Bellingham's ankle is a major concern ahead of Madrid's Champions League last 16 first leg at RB Leipzig on Tuesday, as is a lack of defensive cover. But in La Liga, it is now the title to lose for Madrid. -Alex Kirkland

Saturday Talking Points Around Leagues

Leverkusen distance Bayern with decisive victory on tumultuous Bundesliga day

On another Bundesliga day filled with fan protests, Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated their status as the league's current top dog by beating Bayern Munich 3-0. The kick-off of the highly anticipated clash was postponed just hours after a lengthy interruption in the match between Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg, as fans across Germany continued to demonstrate their opposition to negotiations between the German Football League (DFL) and potential external investors. .

As for the match at Leverkusen's BayArena, Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel, the two coaches, underlined the respect they had for each other by both deviating from their usual tactical formation, with Leverkusen playing with four instead of three and Bayern move from a back four to a back five.

While Bayern, who were two points behind Leverkusen going into the match, looked like they could impose their will on the hosts early on, Tuchel's side looked unable to keep control of the affair after the first quarter of the match. hour, as Leverkusen took over and, for long periods of the match, Bayern dominated, something that had not happened to the record champions for a long time.

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How Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen beat Bayern Munich

Alejandro Moreno explains how Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen managed to outplay a deflated Bayern Munich team.

In a typical footballing moment, Josip Stanisic, who currently plays for Leverkusen on loan from Bayern, scored the go-ahead goal in the 18th minute. The guests were unable to stop a quick attacking play from Alonso's team and Sacha Boey, the recently signed full-back, acted indecisively in his attempt to mark Stanisic.

Anyone expecting Bayern to respond strongly to such an early setback was probably disappointed as Leverkusen kept the game largely in control, while Tuchel scrambled for ideas to inject more life into his team. In the end, Leverkusen, who had already won three games thanks to last-second goals and seemed a little out of gas, were simply the better team, even without some of their usual starters.

Alonso and his players have just laid the foundations to dethrone Bayern in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2013. -Constantin Eckner

PSG's B team does the job against Lille

Four days before PSG's Champions League round of 16 first leg against Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes, coach Luis Enrique decided to rotate his team heavily to face Lille in Ligue 1. No Kylian Mbappé , Bradley Barcola, Marquinhos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, and even Warren Zaire-Emery in the starting lineup since they were all rested before Wednesday's clash. It was a risk given that the Northerners, fourth in the table before the match, have been one of the best teams in France this season. And PSG only took one point in the return match a few weeks ago. But the Spaniard will be delighted with the performance of the usual substitutes.

Not only did the Parisians claim a solid 3-1 victory despite losing a goal just six minutes after Yusuf Yaziçi shocked the league leaders, but the players who needed to make a difference did so. Gonçalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani have both struggled since arriving this summer from Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in big moves, but they scored a goal each against Lille. Fabián Ruiz was effective, Danilo Pereira was solid in defense and Keylor Navas in goal, shockingly making his first league start since May 2022, did what he had to do with two saves from three shots on target.

There is still a certain vulnerability in this PSG team and, if this continues, it will be a real challenge against the best teams, at national and European level. The ease with which Lille scored their goal, even so early, was quite disconcerting. Even if the Parisians' pressing was quite effective and sometimes forced Lille to make mistakes, like on the equalizer, we still have the impression that they don't control much when they don't have the ball. Lille were unable to take the lead despite 50% possession while PSG will be delighted to have managed to beat a very good team despite such a weakened team and to now be 11 points clear at the top of the table before Nice's clash with Monaco on Sunday in the Mediterranean derby. –Julien Laurens

Americans Abroad: Cardoso and Ream Stand Out in Europe

Starting on Friday, we saw some impact from the USMNT in Spain as Real Betis secured a 2-0 victory over Cadiz, but the main talking point was Johnny Cardoso who managed to find the space to pass the ball from the right to Willian José. to score the first goal for Manuel Pellegrini's team and are currently in sixth place occupying the last place in the Europa Conference League with 38 points, one point ahead of seventh place Real Sociedad. It may be a long way to go before we know for sure if Betis will play in European competitions, but hopefully we'll see more USMNT players involved next season.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Fulham managed to secure their first Premier League win of 2024 after beating Bournemouth 3-1 with Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson at the heart of the defense, starting and playing the full 90 minutes for Marco's side Silva. They managed to leapfrog the Cherries into 12th place, just two points behind the team above them at the minute, their west London rivals Chelsea. They will look to continue their progression up the table and hopefully put themselves in a position to move into the top half, without fear of embarking on a relegation race. – Roberto Rojas

News of the day

• After winning the Asian Cup in a 3-1 win over Jordan, Qatar's hat-trick hero Akram Afif said he would be open to playing in Europe again but his decision does not belong to him. “Moving to Europe is something that all players want, but it is a decision that must be taken with great consideration,” he said after the final, through an interpreter. “It's not me who decides. My wife must also make the decision with me, it's not easy to leave the club and the country.”

And finally, Saturday…

Although Cardoso, Ream and Robinson have impressed in Europe so far this weekend, there was sadder news for the USMNT players overseas as West Brom's Daryl Dike was carted off the field in tears following a foot injury during his side's 2-2 draw against Ipswich. City.

The 24-year-old has continued to suffer from injuries since joining West Brom, having only played four times in the league this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in April of the year last. Now, he only lasted 10 minutes coming off the bench on Saturday before falling injured, visibly distraught as he left the field.

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan says the club will wait for scans before discussing the severity of Dike's latest injury. “The injury is on his left foot, the same place as his Achilles injury,” Corberan said after the match. “We don’t know if it is as serious as the previous injury.”