Real Madrid 1-1 Girona: Player ratings as Blancos see lead shrink at top of La Liga
Real Madrid saw their lead at the top of La Liga shrink as a second-half penalty helped Girona claim a point at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior had opened the scoring when he arrived at the back post to convert Federico Valverde's cross and net his sixth league goal of the season.
Substitute Marco Asensio was penalised for handball at a corner following video assistant referee consultation, allowing veteran striker Cristhian Stuani to roll in the equaliser.
Ballon d'Or Karim Benzema was absent from the matchday squad and Toni Kroos was sent off for a second bookable offence at the start of nine minutes of second-half added time, helping the visitors to earn a deserved point.
Rodrygo was the first to go close, drawing a fingertip save from Paolo Gazzaniga with a strike from the edge of the area. Girona responded as Valery Fernandez latched onto Arnau Martinez's cross but glanced wide with a flashing header.
A potshot from distance courtesy of Eduardo Camavinga flashed wide before Real rattled the woodwork. Rodrygo took his shot first-time but saw it bounce back off the post.
Girona continued to pose a threat as Fernandez got beyond Dani Carvajal and squared to Yangel Herrera, but the midfielder's effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Thibaut Courtois' first notable contribution came when he saved well from the onrushing Fernandez, but the play was called back for what looked to be an extremely tight offside call.
That save - given offside or not - proved vital as Real took the lead moments later.
Rodrygo combined with Valverde before the Uruguayan got free in the box and crossed for Vinicius, who timed his run expertly to fire into an empty net.
However, that lead was soon wiped out as substitute Asensio was caught out at a corner, the ball hitting his arm in an unnatural position at pace. A penalty was awarded and Stuani gave his side the point they deserved by sending Courtois the wrong way.
Real pushed for a winner and had the ball in the back of the net when Rodrygo eventually bundled the ball beyond Gazzaniga, but he was adjudged to have kicked it out of the goalkeeper's control.
Kroos - who had been booked for a challenge earlier on Yan Couto - was given his marching orders when a more cynical tackle resulted in a second yellow card.
The draw means Real now hold just a one-point advantage over Barcelona, who won at Valencia on Saturday night. The point lifts Girona out of the relegation zone and into 16th, though they remain without a win since September.
Real Madrid player ratings vs Girona - La Liga
1. Real Madrid (4-3-3)
GK: Thibaut Courtois - 6/10 - Great save denied Fernandez - though it was called offside, it was extremely tight and could have been reversed. Guessed the wrong way for Stuani's penalty.
RB: Dani Carvajal - 5/10 - Seemed to be struggling with an injury as he was beaten a few times by Fernandez.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - 6/10 - Scuppered one chance late on as the ball bounced off his shins and out of play.
CB: David Alaba - 6/10 - Assured enough from Alaba, though his side still conceded some glaring opportunities for the visitors.
LB: Ferland Mendy - 5/10 - Few questionable moments in possession - including one moment where he dribbled across the area and exchanged dodgy passes with Rudiger.
CM: Luka Modric - 6/10 - Not at his flowing best and struggled to pick passes to infiltrate the Girona defence.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga - 6/10 - One shot from distance flashed wide of the post. Made a joint-team high of three tackles before being subbed after the hour.
CM: Toni Kroos - 4/10 - Bad challenge on Couto saw him booked. Another in second-half stoppage time saw him sent off and soured a textbook passing performance from the German.
RW: Federico Valverde - 8/10 - Great feet in the box to play the ball across for Vinicius to fire in the opener. Dropped into central midfield in the second half and was just as impressive.
ST: Rodrygo - 6/10 - Was Real's biggest threat in the first half, seeing one effort come off the woodwork. Should have scored the winner before he had to foul Gazzaniga.
LW: Vinicius Junior - 7/10 - Ineffective in the first half but time his run well to score the opener. Came alive after and look threatening but couldn't force a winner for his side.
SUB: Marco Asensio (61' for Camavinga) - 4/10 - Butchered one counter-attack when Real had a two-on-one advantage and was then penalised by VAR for handball infringement in the build-up. Tried to up the tempo.
SUB: Mariano Diaz (87' for Valverde) - N/A - Came on late in desperation.
SUB: Eder Militao (87' for Mendy) - N/A - Another late sub.
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti - 5/10 - The lack of talisman Benzema didn't help Ancelotti, who resorted to desperate late subs in an attempt to win the game.