Madrid takes another step toward the title as Girona loses

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BARCELONA, Spain, March 17, (AP): Days after being targeted by racist taunts before games not even involving his team, Vinícius Júnior scored twice to lead Spanish league leader Real Madrid to a dominant 4-2 win at Osasuna.

Vinícius, who is Black, has endured racist insults during away games, especially over the last two seasons. This week he was subjected to racist chants by groups of fans gathered outside the stadiums of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona before Champions League games. Atletico played Inter Milan, and Barcelona played Napoli.

“I congratulated Vini Jr. because he played an extraordinary game,” Carlo Ancelotti said after the coach’s 200th win with Madrid. “He is a very dangerous player and everyone knows it. Rival fans jeer him and opposing players give him kicks, although today everything was correct and by the rule book.”
Madrid moved 10 points ahead of Girona with nine games left after the Catalan side stumbled again with a 1-0 defeat at Getafe.

Girona was unable to respond to a first-half goal by Getafe’s Yellu Santiago. Artem Dovbyk, whose 14 league goals lead his team, wasted three good opportunities for Girona to pull even. The Ukraine striker has gone seven games without scoring.
Dovbyk’s drought coincides with Girona’s recent troubles. After losing just once in 23 league games this season, Girona has since lost four of its last six.

Athletic Bilbao striker Gorka Guruzeta scored his 12th and 13th league goals of the campaign to lead a 2-0 win over Alaves.
The team that only fields players from the Basque Country region and neighboring areas rose past Atletico into fourth place in their fight for a Champions League berth.

Also, Mallorca defender Marco Raíllo scored with a late header to give the hosts a 1-0 win over Granada, which remained in next-to-last place.
Athletic and Mallorca will play the Copa del Rey final in three weeks.

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