Lose Top Spot
Real Madrid’s struggle in La Liga continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Girona on Sunday, marking their third consecutive league stalemate and costing them the top position to Barcelona.
Girona stunned Madrid just before halftime when Azzedine Ounahi finished off a sharp move in the 45th minute at the packed Montilivi Stadium. Real Madrid responded strongly after the interval and earned a lifeline when Kylian Mbappé confidently converted a penalty in the 67th minute. Fresh off scoring four goals in the Champions League midweek, Mbappé came close to winning the match late in stoppage time, but his right-footed effort drifted narrowly wide.
Manager Xabi Alonso praised the team’s reaction but admitted frustration at not turning chances into a win. Madrid also felt aggrieved after a challenge on Rodrygo in the 80th minute that they believed warranted another penalty.
With the draw, Real Madrid slipped one point behind Barcelona, who moved top of the table after a 3-1 win over Alaves on Saturday. Girona remain in the relegation zone, having managed only one win in their last six matches.
Elsewhere, Villarreal kept their impressive form alive with a dramatic 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. After letting a 2-0 lead slip, Alberto Moleiro struck a stunning stoppage-time winner to seal the club’s fifth straight league victory. Villarreal now sit just a point behind Madrid.
Atletico Madrid maintained fourth place with a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Oviedo, while Real Betis climbed to fifth after beating Sevilla 2-0 in a heated Seville derby that was halted for over 15 minutes due to objects thrown from the stands.
In another close contest, Espanyol edged Celta Vigo 1-0 thanks to an 86th-minute strike from Kike Garcia.
La Liga’s title race remains intensely tight, with just three points separating the top four teams after 14 matches.
