Report, result, goals as Blancos drop more points in La Liga – but did Kylian Mbappe have a penalty?

Thomas Lemar’s lucky finish earned Girona a point and extended Real Madrid’s winless run to three games as Los Blancos gave Barcelona a further boost at the top of La Liga with a draw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid, who lost at home to top-flight Mallorca last Sunday and away to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, went ahead in the 51st minute when Federico Valverde’s drive flew under goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who made several saves before the break but may have felt he could have stopped the strike.

After their 1-0 home win over Villarreal on Monday, Girona’s productive week continued when Lemar headed in from distance 11 minutes later to move his side nine points clear of the relegation zone and leave Madrid six behind leaders Barcelona, ​​with one more game to play.

Analysis: Should Kylian Mbappe have had a penalty?

If Barcelona can go nine points clear with seven games remaining with a win at home to midfield Espanyol on Saturday (17:30 BST), Madrid’s unbeaten season will most likely hinge on beating a poor-looking Bayern side on Wednesday (20:00).

Liga’s leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappe felt he should have had a penalty after he was tackled by defender Vitor Reis with three minutes remaining, although referee Javier Alberola Rojas did not see a potential offence.

Former La Liga and international referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez said Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology “will not intervene” in a situation like this.

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“It’s an action inside the penalty area, when Mbappe breaks inside and the defender, trying to follow the dribble, hits him in the face with his arm,” Gonzalez told AS.

“For me, it’s a penalty – but the instructions they have in the VAR room are that they shouldn’t intervene in those types of games.”

Mbappe got a consolation against Bayern but has now failed to score in four consecutive Liga games, last finding the net in the league on February 8.

Real Madrid vs Girona team

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (quad) and winger Rodrygo (knee) did not play for Madrid, but Dani Ceballos was on the bench while the midfielder continued to return from injury, as well as defender Ferland Mendy, who had a hamstring problem.

Wideman Trent Alexander-Arnold was among the rest but Jude Bellingham made his first start following an injury which saw England decide not to risk the midfielder during the recent international break.

Defenders Eder Militao and Raul Asensio started following injuries. Dani Carvajal, Fran Garcia, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz also entered.

Winger Franco Mastantuono is suspended.

Real Madrid starting XI: Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Diaz, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

Madrid substitutes: Fran Gonzalez, David Alaba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Gonzalo Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Jesus Fortea, Manuel Angel, Daniel Yanez, Thiago Pitarch

Girona team vs Real Madrid

Goalkeeper Juan Carlos and winger Portu (both knees) and midfielder Donny van de Beek (achilles) remain out for Girona.

Defender Daley Blind was out with a hamstring injury, as was top scorer Vladyslav Vanat with a hamstring problem.

Barcelona’s on-loan goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen suffered a hamstring problem and striker Javier Sarasa was ruled out.

Head coach Michel made three changes, bringing in Manchester City loanee Claudio Echeverri to replace leading scorer Vanat.

Defender Alejandro Frances moved into center back, while Thomas Lemar was introduced in midfield.

Girona starting XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Arnau Martinez, Vitor Reis, Alejandro Frances, Alex Moreno, Axel Witsel, Azzedine Ounahi, Thomas Lemar, Ivan Martin, Claudio Echeverri, Viktor Tsygankov

Girona instead of: Ruben Blanco, Vladyslav Krapyvtsov, Hugo Rincon, Joel Roca, David Lopez, Cristhian Stuani, Fran Beltran, Abel Ruiz, Bryan Gil, Lass Kourouma

What’s next? Real Madrid and Girona matches

Here is Real Madrid’s schedule for the rest of the season, which could include a two-legged Champions League semi-final starting in April if they overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in their quarter-final against Bayern.

Dates and times for the May games to be confirmed.

The remaining types of Girona look like this. Dates and times for the May games to be confirmed.