Mansion Sports – Real Madrid were forced to settle for a 1–1 draw against Girona in their 2025/2026 La Liga clash at Estadi Montilivi.

Los Blancos fell behind just before halftime through Azzedine Ounahi’s precise finish, but they restored parity in the second half courtesy of a well-taken penalty from Kylian Mbappé.

One Point Halts Madrid’s Bid to Return to the Top

The draw means Girona have now suffered only one defeat in their last five matches, while simultaneously thwarting Real Madrid’s attempt to reclaim the league’s top position, currently held by Barcelona.

The additional point also reflects Girona’s recurring pattern this season: they have drawn four of the six matches in which they opened the scoring (2 wins, 4 draws).

Despite their strong effort, Girona remain in the relegation zone due to goal difference. Real Madrid, meanwhile, stay one point behind Barcelona after 14 matches, underscoring the increasingly tight nature of this season’s title race.

First Half: Girona’s Defensive Discipline Slows Madrid

The match began at a slow pace, with Girona adopting a cautious approach and forming a compact defensive block that limited Madrid’s attacking flow.

Arda Güler attempted an early effort that went wide, followed by a promising opportunity for Kylian Mbappé after a defensive error from the hosts.

Girona relied heavily on the creativity of Bryan Gil, though the winger frequently lost possession in dangerous areas.

Madrid controlled possession and tempo, yet chances from Vinícius Júnior and others failed to break the deadlock. Girona’s only on-target attempt came through Viktor Tsygankov.

Madrid nearly took the lead through an Eder Militão header, but Paulo Gazzaniga produced an outstanding reflex save.

Shortly before halftime, Mbappé managed to put the ball in the net, but VAR ruled it out for handball.

Girona then closed the half with a 1–0 advantage thanks to a curling effort from Ounahi that left Thibaut Courtois with no chance.

Second Half: Madrid Increase Pressure but Girona Stand Firm

Real Madrid intensified their pressure entering the second half, yet Girona’s disciplined defensive structure continued to frustrate their attempts in the final third. Courtois was also called upon to make a key save to deny Vladyslav Vanat.

Madrid once again found the net through Vinícius Júnior, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Persistent attacking eventually earned them a penalty when Hugo Rincón brought down Vinícius inside the box. Mbappé converted calmly to level the score at 1–1.

The equaliser accelerated the tempo of the match. Girona came close to regaining the lead when Vítor Reis sent a header narrowly wide.

Madrid created further opportunities through Mbappé and Vinícius, but neither managed to convert. The match concluded with both sides sharing the points.

Girona vs Real Madrid Match Statistics