Real Madrid secured an uplifting victory against Girona, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Kylian Mbappe providing a much-needed boost for both the team and manager Carlo Ancelotti.

This result comes as a relief for the Italian coach, who has faced mounting criticism in recent months. Despite Girona showing early dominance in the match, Real Madrid managed to assert themselves and claim a convincing win.

However, the match was not without its challenges. Jude Bellingham was forced to request a substitution after picking up a muscle issue.

The incident occurred in the 60th minute when Bellingham, attempting a long pass from his own half to Mbappe, collided with Donny van de Beek.

Following the collision, the midfielder immediately signalled discomfort in his upper left leg and went down on the pitch.

His teammates quickly called for medical attention and substitution, leading to Bellingham being replaced by Dani Ceballos.

Adding to the team's concerns, Ferland Mendy also sustained a muscle injury during the match.

Post-game evaluations from the medical staff confirmed that Mendy's issue would sideline him for the upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture against Atalanta.

Ancelotti expressed optimism about Bellingham's condition, stating that the substitution was more precautionary than critical.

"Bellingham is fine, he was a little tired, he preferred not to take risks in the last minutes.

"However, let's evaluate what Mendy has, it looks like something muscular. Mendy will not be in Bergamo," said Ancelotti (h/t AS).

Bellingham appeared to be walking without visible discomfort after the match and remained with his teammates, suggesting that the injury may not be serious.

Despite the setbacks, the Englishman delivered another strong performance, reinforcing his importance to the squad.

While injuries are always a concern, Ancelotti will be hoping his squad can maintain their momentum and go through these hurdles effectively in the weeks to come.