Real Madrid dropped points in the title race with a 1-1 draw at home against Girona on Sunday in La Liga, with Toni Kroos being sent off late in the game.
Real Madrid is suddenly showing some signs of weakness after a great start to the season. Madrid was held by Girona to a 1-1 draw at home on Sunday in the Spanish league to follow up its first loss of the season in all competitions. (More Football News)
Madrid was coming off a 3-2 defeat at Leipzig on Tuesday in the Champions League which ended its unbeaten run.
Going into Sunday바카라s game, Madrid had won 10 of its first 11 Spanish league matches, with a 1-1 home draw against Osasuna in the seventh round.
It had previously not gone two consecutive games without a win.
바카라It was a good effort, though we didn바카라t show great quality,바카라 Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. 바카라The team was a bit tired.바카라
The result cuts Madrid바카라s lead to one point over Barcelona, which won 1-0 at Valencia on Saturday for its 10th win in 12 league matches.
Third-place Atlético Madrid, which lost 3-2 at Cådiz on Saturday, is nine points behind Madrid.
바카라We couldn바카라t get the victory and now we need to try to fix what went wrong and move on,바카라 Madrid defender Dani Carvajal said. 바카라We are still at the top and most teams would be happy to be where we are.바카라
Girona, promoted this season, had one draw and four losses in its five away games in the league this season ahead of facing Madrid. It hasn바카라t won in seven consecutive league matches and sits just outside the relegation zone.
Madrid forward VinĂcius JĂșnior opened the scoring from close range after a cross by Federico Valverde in the 70th minute at the Santiago BernabĂ©u Stadium.
Girona equalized with a penalty kick converted by Cristhian Stuani in the 80th after video review determined a handball by Marco Asensio inside the area. The call drew a lot of criticism from Ancelotti.
Madrid also complained after forward Rodrygo scored what could have been the winning goal in the 89th but the referee saw a foul by the Brazilian as he tried to kick the ball while it was in control by Paulo Gazzaniga, who was making his second start with Girona.
Gazzaniga had already made a spectacular save following a shot from Asensio when Madrid was leading 1-0.
바카라That could have changed the outcome of the match,바카라 Ancelotti said. Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Both teams hit the woodwork in the first half.
Madrid was without Ballon d바카라Or winner Karim Benzema, who missed his third straight game because of muscle fatigue. Ancelotti said Benzema was not feeling fit enough to return to the squad this weekend. The coach also couldn바카라t count on midfielder AurĂ©lien TchouamĂ©ni because of a muscle ailment.
Madrid needs a victory against last-place Celtic on Wednesday to guarantee first place in Group F of the Champions League.
Madrid is the defending champion both in the Spanish league and in the Champions League.
BETIS STRIKES LATE
Real Betis scored two late goals to beat Real Sociedad 2-0 on the road and move into the final Champions League place.
Juan Cruz scored in the 85th and Borja Iglesias struck in stoppage time for Manuel Pellegrini바카라s team.
It was the second straight league loss for Sociedad after a five-match winning run. The Basque Country club dropped to fifth place.
SETIĂN LOSES
Villarreal lost 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao in coach Quique SetiĂ©n바카라s league debut after replacing Unai Emery.
Iñaki Williams scored a 59th-minute winner for Ernesto Valverde바카라s Athletic, which is in sixth place.
Villarreal dropped to eighth.
OSASUNA ROLLS
Seventh-place Osasuna cruised to a 2-0 home win over Valladolid with Chimy Ăvila and Moi GĂłmez each scoring in the first 20 minutes.
It was the second win in three matches for Osasuna.
Valladolid, which had won two in a row, stayed in 11th place.