Bellingham back to best as Real face Girona

While doubts grow around Kylian Mbappe's start at Real Madrid, last season's hero Jude Bellingham has burst into the kind of form which made Los Blancos the champions of Spain and Europe.

Madrid visit Girona on Saturday in La Liga, who were the team which ran them closest for the title until a late drop-off in form saw them fall to third.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have a game in hand on leaders Barcelona, whom they trail by four points after a midweek defeat at Athletic Bilbao, in which Mbappe missed his second penalty in just over a week.

By contrast Bellingham netted for the fourth league game running and is shouldering plenty of responsibility with Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior out injured.

Last season Bellingham scored 10 goals in his first 10 games for the club, but in the current campaign he went 12 matches goalless across all competitions before breaking his duck.

"I arrived last summer, and the club lost arguably one of the greatest goal scorers of the generation in Karim Benzema," said Bellingham last week.

"This year we've signed (Mbappe), one of the best players of this generation, he's someone who has scored an amazing amount of goals so as a team we expect him to do that.

"For me, I know then my role differs, which I'm happy to do... (but) I also want to take that responsibility -- now I've got the smell for it again in these last couple of games."

Bellingham finished well against Athletic on Wednesday to pull his team back on level terms, before a Fede Valverde mistake allowed the Basque side to snatch a 2-1 victory, snapping a three-game winning run in La Liga for Real Madrid.

The England international helped Los Blancos win 3-0 at Girona's Montilivi stadium last season with a stunning assist and a goal, a show of force which warned the Catalan minnows they were still rungs below the elite.

Bellingham then netted twice against Girona in a 4-0 rout at home in February which helped Madrid take control of the title race.

Madrid have lost five games this season across all competitions after losing just twice in the entirety of last season.

"We've improved on certain things in recent games but we're not as solid as we were last year," admitted Ancelotti on Wednesday.

"We'll start getting players back now and we'll improve, that's for sure."

Girona lost various players in the summer and have also been stricken by injuries this season, currently sitting eighth.

Leaders Barcelona visit Real Betis earlier on Saturday, aiming to move seven points clear of Madrid before kick-off at Montilivi.

Diego Simeone's in-form Atletico Madrid, third, welcome Sevilla on Sunday night.

One to watch: Ez Abde

Former Barcelona winger Abde will be out to prove a point to his old side when Real Betis host the league leaders at the Benito Villamarin. The explosive wide man has been an important attacking outlet on the left for his team this season even though so far he has struggled to find the net, with just one league goal in 15 appearances.

KEY STATS

8 - Barcelona's teen star Lamine Yamal leads the league in assists

21 - times Mbappe has been caught offside this season in La Liga

33 - Real Sociedad's Jon Aramburu is the division's top tackler

FIXTURES

Friday

Celta Vigo v Mallorca

Saturday

Las Palmas v Valladolid

Real Betis v Barcelona

Valencia v Rayo Vallecano

Girona v Real Madrid