Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid surrendered their lead atop La Liga after drawing 1:1 with Girona in the 14th round
- Barcelona overtook Real Madrid in the standings with both clubs having played the same number of matches
- Azzedine Ounahi and Kylian Mbappé were the goalscorers for Girona and Real Madrid, respectively
Girona Frustrate Real Madrid to Widen Title Race Twist
Real Madrid’s pursuit of La Liga glory suffered yet another setback, as they were forced to settle for a 1:1 draw away at Girona in the 14th round. This marked the third straight league match in which Real failed to secure victory, a run that has seen them relinquish a five-point advantage over Barcelona – and now even fall one point behind their great rivals, who have played the same number of games.
🚨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐥
🔴 El Real Madrid se deja dos puntos en Girona…
🔵🔴 ¡y el Barça es el nuevo líder de LaLiga! pic.twitter.com/CuZXO0zYyy
— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) November 30, 2025
The capital side’s struggles were evident on the night, finding themselves behind just before the break after Azzedine Ounahi fired past Thibaut Courtois in the 45th minute. Although Kylian Mbappé levelled the contest from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, Real Madrid could not capitalise on their dominance and failed to overturn the deficit, even after penalty appeals for a foul on Rodrygo were dismissed in the last 10 minutes – with the referee not summoned to the VAR monitor.
Match Analysis
Girona, languishing in the relegation zone and still without a victory in their first seven rounds, seized a rare opportunity against one of the league’s giants. With 19-year-old Bulgarian Aleksandar Andreev as a back-up goalkeeper and Gazzaniga between the posts, the hosts survived early pressure after dictating play during the opening exchanges.
Real Madrid grew into the match, threatening the Girona goal after the initial period. Éder Militão’s header in the 38th minute resulted in a fine save from Gazzaniga. Just two minutes later, controversy erupted: Mbappé found the back of the net, only for VAR to confirm a handball and disallow the goal following protests from Girona’s defenders. The home side capitalised almost instantly, as Ounahi produced a sublime finish beneath the crossbar to stun Courtois and earn Girona a 1:0 lead at half-time.
For the second period, Real boss Xabi Alonso introduced Camavinga for Arda Güler in an attempt to inject more energy. However, Girona nearly doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Vanat was thwarted one-on-one by Courtois.
Real responded with intensity and drew level in the 67th minute through Mbappé, who converted a penalty awarded for a Rincón foul on Vinícius Júnior. Despite subsequent pressure, Vinícius Júnior was denied a goal by fine margins and misfortune, especially in the 79th minute. A further penalty appeal for a challenge by Joel Roca on Rodrygo was waved away – no VAR review followed.
Girona’s Roca then had a promising chance in the 84th minute, but his shot lacked power. The match’s final opportunity fell to Mbappé, who was unable to snatch a late winner for the visitors.
Line-Ups and Tactical Selections
Both Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão were restored to the heart of Madrid’s defence, with Courtois also returning to goal. Fran García was preferred to Álvaro Carreras at left-back, while Girona entrusted their defensive duties to a disciplined but under-pressure line.
| Team | Goals | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Girona | 1 | Ounahi 45′ (goal), Vanat 57′ (shot saved by Courtois), Roca 84′ (missed chance) |
| Real Madrid | 1 | Mbappé 67′ (penalty), Militão 38′ (header saved), Mbappé 40′ (goal disallowed) |
Title Race Implications and Next Fixtures
The stalemate leaves Real Madrid chasing Barcelona, who now top the standings after exploiting Real’s lost form over the past three rounds. The coming week promises to be crucial: Barcelona face tough encounters against Atlético Madrid and Betis, while Real Madrid confront Athletic Bilbao and Celta in consecutive fixtures. Madridistas will hope their recent woes can be reversed as the campaign intensifies.
