Girona 2-1 Real Madrid

Zidane recalled a host of first-team stars who sat out the midweek Copa del Rey win at Fuenlabrada, as only Kiko Casilla and teenager Achraf Hakimi held their places.

Girona were hardly overawed and went agonisingly close to a shock lead when Pablo Maffeo's curling effort came back off the left upright.

The hosts' frustration was immediately compounded by a blistering Madrid counter-attack. Goalkeeper Bono spilled Cristiano Ronaldo's dipping shot at the end of the move, enabling Isco to bury the close-range rebound for a 12th-minute lead.

Despite their advantage, Zidane's men looked shaky at the back as they regularly gave away possession in dangerous areas.

And the woodwork proved their saviour a second time, Casilla this time indebted to his right post for keeping out Portu's superb looped header late in the half.

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