Girona 1-1 Real Madrid: 18th-placed side leaves Xabi Alonso frustrated with disciplined performance at home
Kylian Mbappe scored from the spot to spare Real Madrid from a damaging defeat as a struggling Girona held them to a 1-1 draw on Sunday night.
The visitors were short of ideas for long spells at Montilivi and were rescued by a 67th-minute penalty from Mbappe after Vinicius Junior was tripped in the area by Hugo Rincon.
Mbappe’s goal kept up his remarkable scoring run – he now has 23 goals in 19 appearances for Los Blancos this season – but otherwise it was a hugely disappointing night for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Madrid stay second in the table, a point behind leaders Barcelona, after a game where they controlled possession but struggled to turn that into clear goalscoring opportunities.
They had only one shot on target in the first half, after Eder Militao’s header was clawed away by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Mbappe had the ball in the back of the net but saw the goal ruled out for a handball.
Girona, third from bottom, were organised and disciplined for much of the game. They took the lead just before half-time after a brilliant team move ended with Azzedine Ounahi sweeping a first-time shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.
Alonso’s side had a much better second half, moving the ball quicker through the middle and asking bigger questions of the home defence.
Vinicius thought he had levelled, only for his effort to be chalked off for offside before Mbappe’s penalty finally brought Madrid back level.
