Kylian Mbappé scores his 23rd goal of the season from the spot to earn Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against Girona, keeping them a point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Girona on Sunday, with a Kylian Mbappé penalty sparing them a second league defeat but costing them the chance to return to the top of the La Liga table.
The French striker leveled the score in the 67th minute, confidently slotting a low spot-kick past goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga after Vinicius Jr was tripped in the box by Hugo Rincon. The goal marked Mbappé’s 23rd goal in 19 matches for Real this season, following his four-goal haul in the midweek Champions League victory over Olympiacos.
Girona Takes the Lead
Girona, who sit third from bottom in the table with just 12 points, made the afternoon difficult for Real Madrid with adept marking and capitalizing on the visitors’ lack of clinical finishing.
Real was punished just before half-time when Girona struck on the counter-attack. Moroccan international Azzedine Ounahi received the ball and fired a first-time effort from the edge of the box into the top corner, giving the home side the lead.
Frustrating Day for Real
The visitors endured a sluggish opening period, registering only one shot on target in the first half. Mbappé thought he had opened the scoring earlier, managing to bundle the ball home in a crowded area, but the effort was ruled out for hitting his hand.
Real’s fortunes improved in the second half, with Xabi Alonso’s side focusing on quick attacks through the middle. Vinicius Jr also had the ball in the net after an intricate passing move, but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
Despite Mbappé’s successful spot-kick, the dropped points mean Real Madrid remain second in Spain’s top flight, now sitting one point behind leaders Barcelona. The draw highlights a dip in form for Alonso’s side, who have now won just one of their past five games across all competitions.
