Real Madrid's quest to reclaim the Spanish La Liga summit was dealt a significant setback on Sunday, as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw away at Girona. This result marks a third consecutive league draw for Xabi Alonso's side, allowing rivals Barcelona to maintain their grip on first place.
Mbappe Penalty Rescues Point for Stuttering Madrid
The match at Montilivi stadium saw the home side, Girona, take a surprise lead just before half-time. Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi fired a powerful shot from inside the area to stun the visitors and send the raucous home crowd into delirium. Earlier, Madrid's French superstar Kylian Mbappe had seen a goal disallowed for handball.
Real Madrid, needing a win to overtake Barcelona after their victory over Alaves on Saturday, pushed for an equalizer. Their breakthrough came from the penalty spot after Vinicius Junior was brought down in the box by Hugo Rincon. Mbappe stepped up and coolly converted his 14th league goal of the campaign, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to secure a point for Los Blancos.
Alonso Under Pressure as Title Race Tightens
The draw leaves Real Madrid in second place, one point behind defending champions Barcelona. The result inevitably increases the scrutiny on coach Xabi Alonso, with recent speculation about the security of his position. Speaking after the match, Alonso remained focused on the long season ahead.
"We are up there, it’s all very even, it’s a long season and we have to continue," Alonso told reporters. "I liked the reaction from the players. We have to continue with the unity we have, being self-critical enough, and wanting to win away from home." He added that the league table will be "hard-fought" with "lots of movement."
On social media, goalscorer Mbappe echoed the need for improvement, writing on Instagram: "Absolutely not the result we wanted tonight... We need to change this dynamic and show who we are as a team." Madrid's challenging schedule continues with a trip to face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
Villarreal Keep Pace with Dramatic Late Win
Elsewhere in La Liga, the race for the top four intensified. Villarreal moved back into third place ahead of Atletico Madrid thanks to a dramatic 3-2 victory at Real Sociedad. Playmaker Alberto Moleiro was the hero, scoring twice in the second half including a 95th-minute winner to secure Villarreal's fifth straight league win.
Coach Marcelino praised his team's resilience, calling their haul of 32 points from a possible 42 a "stunning achievement." In the Seville derby, Real Betis claimed a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a match briefly suspended after home fans threw bottles onto the pitch.
