Leaders Madrid drop points at home in Girona draw

A below-par Real Madrid dropped points in the title race with a 1-1 draw at home against Girona on Sunday in La Liga, with Rodrygo having a goal ruled out late on.

Second-placed Barcelona, who snatched a late victory at Valencia on Saturday, are now just a point behind the leaders, who remain unbeaten in the top flight.

Reigning champions Madrid took the lead through Vinicius Junior in the 70th minute but Cristhian Stuani levelled with a penalty after Marco Asensio handled in the area.

Rodrygo bashed home what he thought was an 89th-minute winner, but the goal was disallowed as he kicked the ball out from under Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s hand — he had just about managed to get it under control after stopping a shot from the Brazilian.

Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was sent off in stoppage time after earning a second yellow card for a foul from behind on Aleix Garcia to cap a frustrating afternoon for Carlo Ancelotti’s team at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We could not get the three points today but any team would like to be where we are, we’re still at the top,” Carvajal told Movistar, who also asked him about Rodrygo’s disallowed goal.

“If the goalkeeper says that he has the ball trapped between his hand and the floor, well, then it’s a foul,” he added.

Madrid suffered their first defeat in all competitions against Leipzig on Tuesday in the Champions League, although their qualification for the last 16 was already assured.

They were again without Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who was not 100 percent fit after a thigh problem, while Aurelien Tchouameni was a surprise late absence after initially being named on the squad list for the game.

The France midfielder was reported to have a muscular problem, but is expected to return for Madrid’s Champions League game against Celtic on Wednesday, where they are aiming to seal top spot in their group.

Valery Fernandez sent an effort just wide with Girona threatening early on, before Rodrgyo, who overcame an illness to play, smashed a low effort off the post.

The best chance of the first half was forced by Girona shortly before the break, when Valery showed great strength to hold off Dani Carvajal and drag the ball back for Yangel Herrera, who crashed a strike against the crossbar.

Ancelotti took action by switching holding midfielder Eduardo Camavinga for Asensio and soon Madrid broke the deadlock.

Fede Valverde, in sparkling form, placed a tempting low ball across the face of goal for Vinicius to turn home.

Asensio almost doubled the lead immediately afterwards, but Gazzaniga made a spectacular reflex save to deny the Spanish forward and keep Girona in the game.

They capitalised when Asensio was ruled to have handled a David Lopez shot, even though the ball appeared to hit his chest first, and Stuani cooly sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way from the penalty spot.

“From what I remember the referees said at the start of the season if it hit another part of your body first, it’s not given, I don’t think it would be in the Champions League,” said Courtois.

“They thought it was a penalty today, and that’s that. It’s strange, sometimes it’s handball, sometimes it’s not, we don’t know.”

The goal meant the Belgian again failed to keep a clean sheet in La Liga, without any in eight top-flight matches this season.

Girona were good value for their point, even though it nearly slipped out of their hands when Rodrygo pounced at the end, but the goal was disallowed for the offence against Gazzaniga and they saw out 10 long minutes of stoppage time.

“Speaking in a football sense, it’s a goal, but the rule says if the goalkeeper has his hand planted, then it’s a foul,” admitted Girona coach Michel, able to celebrate a good result on his 47th birthday, which moved his team up to 16th.

“I think they should take a look at the rule. If you don’t kick the goalkeeper’s hand and just the ball, it should be a goal.”

Earlier Osasuna earned a solid 2-0 win over Real Valladolid to move sixth.