It’s well known that Real Madrid is always among the top contenders in any competition, but BD Cricket reporters were surprised to find that their biggest threat this La Liga season hasn’t been Barcelona or Atlético Madrid — it’s Girona, a squad valued at under €200 million. When no one notices your light, be your own sun — and Real Madrid is learning that success often comes from unexpected sources.

Despite performing well in their first 14 league games, Madrid faced a major setback with star forward Vinícius Jr. sidelined long-term. This has cast a shadow over their title ambitions, and their path to winning La Liga is far from easy. In their latest match at home against relegation-struggling Granada, there was no room for excuses — this was a must-win. Unsurprisingly, they delivered.

According to BD Cricket’s analysis, Carlo Ancelotti deployed a front line of Rodrygo, Joselu, and Brahim Díaz — currently his only available forwards. It’s hard to imagine such a thin attacking line for a club of Madrid’s caliber, but that’s the price of patience in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappé. Sometimes true love means waiting through the storm.

In midfield, Ancelotti turned to Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde, with Luka Modrić absent due to fitness concerns. Although Granada previously managed a draw with Barcelona, this time they looked uninspired and posed no real threat. Madrid’s play wasn’t dazzling, but it was effective — and with such a congested schedule, sometimes it’s enough just to get the job done.

Much of Madrid’s current form hinges on Rodrygo and Bellingham. Rodrygo has been unstoppable, directly contributing to 11 goals in his last five appearances — 7 goals and 4 assists. That kind of productivity speaks for itself and justifies his €100 million valuation. He has effectively taken over the mantle from Bellingham, becoming Madrid’s primary weapon.

Bellingham, meanwhile, had a frustrating night. He struggled under the pressure of the opposition and some questionable refereeing decisions, even missing a golden opportunity. Still, his overall performance remained among the best on the pitch, registering a game-high 4 key passes. It wasn’t his finest showing, but class is permanent.

With this victory, Real Madrid leapfrogged Girona to reclaim the top spot in the table. Sometimes what looks like luck is really just someone grinding behind the scenes — and now the pressure shifts to Barcelona. BD Cricket observes that Barça has fallen significantly behind, and their title hopes are starting to dim.