Barcelona beat Valencia 2-1, putting Girona in first place for a short time. But Madrid went back ahead on goal difference on a calm evening in Madrid.

At the Santiago Bernabeu, Brahim Diaz scored the first goal in the middle of the first half. After 57 minutes, Rodrygo made it 2-0.

The forward from Brazil has scored seven goals in his last five games in all categories. Madrid has had a good start to the season, and he came on at the right time to help them keep it up.

A lot of important Madrid players are hurt, including goalie Thibaut Courtois and winger Vinicius Junior.

But Real Madrid had more than enough to beat Andalucia, who were 19th in the league and were trying to stay in it.

The manager told the press, “Rodrygo is back to his best and scoring a lot of goals.”

D back Toni Kroos set up Diaz’s first goal with a smart pass, which made the coach happy.

“He doesn’t give balls away, he always chooses the best option, he’s a midfielder who wants the ball,” said Ancelotti.

“He is not afraid and he positions himself very well, it’s his biggest virtue, his control too … when he doesn’t play, he’s irreplaceable.”

To try to keep Carlo Ancelotti’s team at bay, Granada lined up with five defenders. It worked to some extent, but it was always clear that Madrid would win.

Madrid took over the game quickly and didn’t miss many chances.

At the 26-minute mark, Kroos made a great pass that set Diaz up for a goal. He kept calm and poked the ball in just enough to put Madrid ahead.

The player who used to play for Manchester City scored his second goal in four games. Diaz showed that he could help Rodrygo fill in for Vinicius Junior while he was hurt.

“We played the football that we know, it was a nearly perfect game, we dominated the match and they created very few chances against us,” Diaz shared with Real Madrid TV.

“We were very focused and that’s the work of the whole team and the players, who are spectacular.”

Performance under control

Jude Bellingham scored 11 goals, which was the most in La Liga. He could have scored another just before halftime, but his shot went across goal and the ball went wide.

The England man got a yellow card early in the game for being rude. He begged for a penalty before halfway when Ignasi Miquel tackled him and got the ball first, but no one would listen.

Madrid’s second goal came after a nice move involving Joselu, Diaz, and Bellingham.

Andre Ferreira, the goalie for Granada, saved the midfielder, but Rodrygo ran on to the loose ball and smashed it home before the hour mark. He has scored in five games in a row now.

Fede Valverde had a great chance to make it three when Bellingham passed the ball to him, but Ferreira blocked his shot.

“I think the team gave everything; we left our skins out there,” Granada defender Ricard Sanchez told DAZN. We’re not to blame for anything.

It was bad for the visitors when winger Bryan Zaragoza got hurt late in the game.

Barcelona is in fourth place, and Atletico Madrid is in third. On Sunday, they will go to Barcelona to try to close the seven-point gap between them and the top two teams.