Real Madrid suffer three game winless run despite Valverde nets

Former Atlético Madrid attacker Thomas Lemar scored the all-important equaliser as 12th-placed Girona held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw for the second time this season, dealing another blow to the home side’s fading LaLiga title hopes.

Match Report

Wearing a kit inspired by the 1991/92 campaign, Girona started brightly in the opening game of LaLiga’s retro weekend, with Azzedine Ounahi forcing Andriy Lunin into an excellent near-post save within the first 15 minutes. Real Madrid, who opted not to join in the nostalgia-themed celebration, looked to assert control with a couple of promising chances before the half-hour mark. Jude Bellingham stretched to poke the ball wide in his first start since January, and shortly after, Federico Valverde saw his driven effort beaten away by the alert Paulo Gazzaniga.

However, the Girona goalkeeper struggled to impress when Valverde unleashed one of his long-range efforts early in the second half. Gazzaniga made an awkward attempt to stop the Uruguayan’s swerving strike, which flew past his weak resistance to the delight of most of the 70,885 spectators. That joy was short-lived, as Lemar was left unchallenged to score Girona’s well-taken 62nd-minute equaliser. The Frenchman had the time and space to shoot from the edge of the box, sending a low effort through Eduardo Camavinga’s legs and past the helpless Lunin.

Girona remained the more dangerous side for a spell after drawing level, with each attack met by whistles from a frustrated Bernabéu crowd aware of the cost of further dropped points. The tension persisted when Kylian Mbappé fired a near-post effort straight at Gazzaniga while chasing a late winner, moments after having a penalty appeal dismissed. Álvaro Arbeloa’s side eventually ran out of time in their push for victory, following consecutive defeats to Mallorca and Bayern Munich with a draw, as Barcelona now have the opportunity to extend their lead to nine points in the title race.