Girona 1–1 Real Madrid: Mbappé converts penalty to secure hard-fought draw
Real Madrid leave Montilivi with a share of points on a tough night, with defensive errors and the resistance of Girona coloring another tight league result
Match Summary
Real Madrid escaped with a 1–1 draw at Montilivi, where Kylian Mbappé’s second-half penalty drew them level against a confident Girona. The home team struck first just before the interval, when Azzedine Ounahi powered in a clinical finish to end Madrid’s streak of clean sheets against Girona since April 2023.
The high press and compact setup by Girona really troubled Madrid in the first half, while a misjudged pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold almost gifted the hosts a second clear chance. After the break, Madrid’s tempo notably improved. Mbappé earned a penalty after being fouled inside the box and then made no mistake, slotting it home in the 67th minute to restore parity.
Thibaut Courtois again proved decisive, making several crucial saves that denied Girona a further advantage. The returns of Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger brought much-needed structure to Madrid’s defence, while Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior injected speed and creativity as the game wore on.
Still, individual slip-ups and below-par outings from Fede Valverde and Arda Güler kept Girona competitive throughout the game. Madrid generated a few promising late opportunities — including a close attempt by Vinícius — but couldn’t find a winner, ultimately settling for a single point on the road.
