Argentine striker Valentin Castellanos scored a quadruple for his humble team, Girona, and led it to a big victory over its guest, Real Madrid, 4-2, on Tuesday, in the opening of the 31st stage of the Spanish Football League, to bring Barcelona closer to the title.

Castellanos, who plays with Girona on loan from New York City FC, imposed himself the absolute star of the meeting, by scoring a historic “super hat-trick” in the 12th, 24th, 46th and 62nd minutes. While he scored for the Brazilian Real Vinicius Junior (34) and substitute Lucas Vasquez (85).

Speaking about his achievement, Castellanos told Movistar: "It's the perfect evening. We're playing against one of the best teams in the world, I couldn't have imagined it. I'm going to enjoy it with our fans, my family and relatives in Argentina, in Mendoza...".

He added, "Scoring against Real Madrid was already a dream, so scoring four goals! I let you imagine... We are happy with the victory, we needed him to move away from the relegation zone, and aspire to higher positions."

It is the third match in a row in which the Catalan club did not lose against Real (won 2-1 last year and drew 1-1 in the first leg this season in stage 12), after the royal club had decided the previous four matches in its favour.

Real's hopes of retaining his title became almost impossible after his score froze in second place at 65 points, 11 points behind rivals Barcelona, who will be a guest at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. Same day.

On the other hand, Girona, who achieved its eleventh victory this season, advanced to ninth place temporarily, with 41 points.

Many important players were absent in the ranks of Real, who is fighting on both fronts in the local cup, as it reached the final match and the Champions League to face Manchester City in the semi-finals, such as French striker Karim Benzema, who was injured, and Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who suffered a health problem. Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti also decided to keep the French, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Chuamini, on the bench, and pushed the Brazilian attacking trio, Vincencius Junior, Rodrigo and Asensio.

Ancelotti said after the heavy defeat during the press conference, "It was a difficult evening, yes. We apologize to our fans and our game was bad defensively. With the ball we played well, especially at the beginning... They scored two goals from two quick attacks and we tried to come back, but thanks to our individual skills and not as a team".

"We were nervous from the start and lost control a bit, and when we felt that the break could help us, we conceded the third goal and the game got complicated... If we don't commit to defending, we will have difficulty winning matches. If we commit, we will win all matches. That's the key. .".

And from the first attack by Girona, Castellanos opened the scoring after a team game and a cross pass from defender Miguel Gutierrez, followed by the 24-year-old striker, free of control, heading into the goal (12), to return and add the second after a pass from Arno Martinez in the back of the defense to bypass Brazilian defender Eder Militao and enter area and hit a ball that passed between the feet of the Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin (24).

Vinicius Junior reduced the score with a header after a through pass from Asensio into the area (34).

Girona stunned its guest with a third goal, just 38 seconds after the start of the second half, scored by Castellanos, raising his score to 3 goals, after an effort from Brazilian Yan Cotto, who got rid of veteran defending captain Nacho Fernandez (33 years) on the right side, rushed into the area and passed a back ball followed by the Argentine. easily into the net.

Castellanos achieved a quadruple "super hat-trick" in the 62nd minute, after a pass from Rodrigo Riquimelli from 25 meters diverted after colliding with defender Dani Carvajal.

Castellanos came out and Uruguayan Christian Stuani entered instead in the 72nd minute, before Real scored the goal to reduce the difference after an individual effort from Vinicius Junior, who dodged Uruguayan defender Santiago Bueno inside the area and passed to substitute Vasquez, who followed it into the net (85).

Osasuna defeated its host, Cadiz, 1-0, scored by Ruben García Santos (62).

He later plays Real Betis with Real Sociedad.