Mbappé’s penalty earns Real madrid a point at Girona, missed chance to reclaim la liga lead

Kylian Mbappé’s second-half penalty spared Real Madrid from a damaging defeat at struggling Girona on Sunday, but the 1–1 draw meant Los Blancos failed to regain top spot in La Liga, Sport360NG reports.

The French forward converted from the spot in the 67th minute, calmly sending a low effort beyond Paulo Gazzaniga after Vinícius Júnior was brought down in the area by Hugo Rincón. The goal marked Mbappé’s 23rd strike in just 19 appearances this season, following his four-goal haul in the Champions League midweek.

Despite Madrid’s superior form and Girona sitting third from bottom with only 12 points, the hosts made life difficult for Xabi Alonso’s side. Girona defended with discipline, restricting Madrid’s space and capitalising on the visitors’ lack of sharpness in the final third.

Their resilience paid off just before the interval when Azzedine Ounahi put them ahead. The Moroccan midfielder finished a swift break with a precise first-time shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, punishing Madrid for a sluggish first half in which they registered only one effort on target.

Mbappé had earlier thought he opened the scoring after bundling the ball over the line in a crowded box, but the effort was chalked off for a handball. Vinícius also had a close-range finish ruled out for offside in the second half.

Madrid improved significantly after the break, switching to quicker combinations through the middle while Vinícius’ movement drew defenders out of shape. But despite the renewed energy, they still struggled to break down Girona until Mbappé’s equaliser from the spot.

The draw leaves Real Madrid second in La Liga, one point behind leaders Barcelona, and extends their poor run of form to just one win in their last five matches across all competitions.