Real Madrid title hopes hit by 1-1 draw with Girona at Bernabeu

Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw against mid-table
Girona in LaLiga yesterday (10 April), extending the hosts' winless run to
three games in all competitions and giving leaders Barcelona the chance to
stretch their advantage at the top.
Federico Valverde put Real ahead
six minutes after halftime, but Girona levelled in the 62nd minute through
Thomas Lemar.
Barca have 76 points, six ahead of
second-placed Real, who have now played a game more. The Catalan side visit
Espanyol on Saturday and can move nine clear with seven matches left.
Real began the night under pressure, having slipped to a loss at Mallorca last
weekend to trail Barca by seven points.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa opted for a
full-strength side despite Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second
leg at Bayern Munich looming next Wednesday (15 April), in which his side must
overturn a 2-1 deficit suffered at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr led
the line, with Jude Bellingham in midfield, as Real monopolised possession. Yet
for all their territorial dominance, clear chances proved scarce in a tepid
first half short on tempo and inspiration.
Girona were content to sit deep and
spring forward when possible. They came closest before the break when Azzedine
Ounahi unleashed a fierce effort from inside the box, only for goalkeeper
Andriy Lunin to produce a sharp reflex save.
The contest finally flickered into life after halftime.
Valverde broke the deadlock in the
51st minute with a low strike from the edge of the area that should have posed
little threat, but Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga allowed the ball to squirm
through his arms as he dropped to try to smother it.
Real's relief was short-lived,
however.
In the 62nd minute, Lemar surged in
from the right and rifled a superb shot from the edge of the box that flew
just inside the right post beyond Lunin's despairing dive to level the score.
Real pushed for a winner, but
urgency curdled into anxiety. Attacks were hurried, passes rushed, and
composure lacking.
Girona held their shape with
discipline to frustrate the crowd, who booed the players with the sensation
that their team's LaLiga hopes are dissipating before their eyes.
The final whistle was greeted with
unease around the Bernabeu, as Real's stuttering form leaves the title race
tilting ever more firmly towards their old rivals Barca.
















