Girona coach Michel Sanchez insisted his team cannot keep up with La Liga leaders Real Madrid despite their stunning 4-3 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to pull level in first place.The Catalan minnows, promoted to the top flight in 2022, are tied with leaders Real Madrid at the half-way stage of the season, 10 points clear of third place Atletico Madrid and champions Barcelona. However the coach has insisted his team are not in the same bracket as Spain’s big three and maintained that line after the remarkable triumph at their Montilivi stadium. "We cannot keep up with Madrid’s rhythm, we don’t want to put that label on ourselves (of challengers),” Michel told reporters. "To talk about bigger things, like the Champions League, we have to get to the last 10 matches...then I’ll be ready to talk about our next objective.”Michel said his team’s only goal at this point of the season was qualifying for European competition. "(Winning the league) is not the objective, the objective is first to think game-by-game, and try to reach Europe, which would already be a success for us,” he added.Girona, who have scored 46 goals, more than any other side in the top flight, are 13 points clear of fifth place Athletic Bilbao, giving them a strong chance of finishing in the top four. Michel’s side thrashed Barcelona 4-2 in December, with the Spanish champions aiming to cut down the 10 point gap when they visit Las Palmas.After Real Madrid edged Real Mallorca 1-0 thanks to Antonio Rudiger’s goal, Ivan Martin’s stoppage time strike ensured Girona matched Carlo Ancelotti’s side on 48 points from 19 matches.Alvaro Morata hit a hat-trick for Atletico at Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium, but it was not enough as Martin found the top corner at the death to keep Girona firmly in the hunt for the title. Valery Fernandez, Savinho and Daley Blind netted for the hosts in a wild first half, with Morata twice scoring for Atletico.Mallorca battled well against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu before Rudiger grabbed the hosts their victory. The defender headed home from a corner with 12 minutes remaining to settle a tight clash in which Mallorca twice hit the woodwork. Vinicius Junior made his return from injury as Los Blancos struggled to find a way through against their stubborn visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu.Eventually Rudiger converted from Luka Modric’s corner to seal victory. "I scored last season (against Mallorca) and this year again, I’m very happy because it was an important goal and an important three points for us,” said Rudiger.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was happy his team took advantage of a set piece to secure victory, just as they did against Alaves in their last game of 2023. "We lacked some freshness and accuracy in the final third, but we won because of a well-taken set piece,” Ancelotti told reporters. "There are games like today’s in which dead balls can give you an advantage - we played against a team that defended well.”Madrid have now gone 18 matches without defeat across all competitions. With David Alaba and Eder Militao injured and Nacho Fernandez suspended, the Italian was forced to innovate, but he was able to bring winger Vinicius back into the side for the first time since November 11 after a hamstring injury.Vinicius dragged wide of goal and then was thwarted by Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic on a relatively quiet return. Ancelotti withdrew Vinicius in the 60th minute for Brahim Diaz, who hit the post with a close-range diving header before Rudiger eventually pounced.
January 04, 2024 | 10:43 PM