MADRID — Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona in LaLiga as they dropped two points in the title race to stay ahead of Barcelona by a single point on Sunday.
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Madrid took the lead in the second half as Vinicius Junior poked home a low cross from Federico Valverde, but Girona pegged back the LaLiga leaders via a penalty from Cristhian Stuani in the 80th minute as a VAR check ruled a foul when a set-piece hit Marco Asensio‘s arm. VAR then ruled out a late winner from Rodrygo.
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland has reaction and analysis from the Bernabeu.
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Rapid reaction
1. Real Madrid slip-up leaves title race wide open
Madrid needed a reaction after their loss in midweek — a 3-2 Champions League group stage defeat away at RB Leipzig — brought an end to an impressively consistent 16-game unbeaten streak stretching back to the start of the season. That result didn’t matter much, given that Madrid have already qualified for the round of 16, but a win here was absolutely necessary after Barcelona had kept the pressure on them with a late 1-0 win at Valencia a day earlier.
This was an awkward game against an enterprising Girona, but when Vinicius Jr. finally put Madrid ahead in the 70th minute with a close-range finish from Valverde’s cross, it looked like their hard work had paid off. Instead, there was more frustration to come. Substitute Asensio could have made it 2-0 but was denied by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, and then a VAR review saw Asensio judged to have handled inside the box and Stuani levelled from the penalty spot.
There was time for more drama — Rodrygo had a goal ruled out for a borderline foul on Gazzaniga, and Toni Kroos was sent off for a second yellow card — but the end result was a 1-1 draw that leaves Madrid just a point ahead of Barca at the top of the table. There will be no margin for error in the two league games that Madrid have left to play against Rayo Vallecano and Cadiz before the World Cup break.
2. Eduardo Camavinga shows he’s not just an impact sub
