Real Madrid battered by Man City-owned team just fortnight before Champions League clash

Pep Guardiola will have had one eye on Catalonia on Tuesday as Girona dished out a 4-2 hammering against La Liga rivals Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side travelled to Catalonia hoping to keep alive any slim hopes of retaining the Spanish league title, which now appears destined to return to Barcelona. And Real’s latest loss served as a blueprint in how to beat Los Blancos, with a Champions League semi-final against Manchester City just a fortnight away.

As if that wasn’t enough damage done by City-affiliated stars, Etihad Stadium loanee Yan Couto also made an impact by assisting Castellanos’ third goal of the evening. The Brazilian right-back, 20, is on his second season-long loan with Girona having received valuable playing time farmed out to Braga last term.

Ancelotti’s side came unstuck at the Estadi Municipal de Montlivi, where Vinicius halved the deficit just before the interval, only for Real to lose the second period by the same scoreline. The Brazil winger also teed up Lucas Vazquez’s consolation five minutes from full-time, bringing his tally to three goals and six assists in his last seven appearances.

Real were forced to make several significant changes in Catalonia, with leading scorer Karim Benzema among the injured. Eduardo Camavinga has provided a safe solution at left-back for La Liga’s titleholders but only appeared off the bench, while Ferland Mendy and David Alaba continued their absences on the sidelines.