Real Madrid vs Girona

Girona are fighting to avoid relegation this season and are one of the worst teams in La Liga. Some familiar faces like Miguel Gutierrez and Reinier Jesus are ...

Coach Carlo Ancelotti could decide to make some more rotations in this one just keep his veterans fresh for Wednesday’s crucial match against Celtic. [Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) host Girona in what should be a manageable home game in La Liga. Some familiar faces like Miguel Gutierrez and Reinier Jesus are finding minutes there, but it’s clear that Girona will not have an easy path towards trying to stay in La Liga this year.

Follow all the action live from the Santiago Bernabéu as Los Blancos look to reinstate a gap at the top of LaLiga in Spain.

Have you ever been to the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid? Simple rule: don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight... Just the wrong side, but a warning to the hosts. The club also rewarded Éder Militão and Rodrygo Goes for their role in Los Blancos’ LaLiga and Champions League double by handing the Brazilians new deals at the beginning of July. He's totally biased in favour of the opposition, whether you're a Madrid or Girona fan. It's well defended and away, a foul being won from the high press. Then Kroos gets fed up of that and thwacks an ambitious effort goalwards, not causing too many problems for the Girona stopper. The home crowd are quick to make their feelings known. On the stretch he's unable to control it. All of this inside the Girona penalty area. Despite that, he and the masses sitting around him, scream for a foul. It was a game that had huge implications at either end of the LaLiga Santander table.

Real Madrid saw their lead at the top of La Liga shrink as a second-half penalty ...

Dropped into central midfield in the second half and was just as impressive. Should have scored the winner before he had to foul Gazzaniga. Another in second-half stoppage time saw him sent off and soured a textbook passing performance from the German. A penalty was awarded and Stuani gave his side the point they deserved by sending Courtois the wrong way. Made a joint-team high of three tackles before being subbed after the hour. Rodrygo took his shot first-time but saw it bounce back off the post.

Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday but the reigning champions maintained their unbeaten streak in LaLiga and ...

"We couldn't get the win, but overall we're still at the top, any team would want to be where we are," Carvajal added. "We did enough to win, we had some chances. We waited for our chances and they came, you always have to suffer here [at the Bernabeu]." "I think this is a reward for all the effort we put in ... Girona, who are 16th in the standings, came away with a precious point as their players sank to the ground in relief. Marco [Asensio] says it hit his chest and then his hand, and in theory I think that after a rebound like that it isn't handball. "[The referee] thought it was a handball and a penalty, and that's all. I don't think it would be given in the Champions League. "There's nothing else to say, it was given. It's strange, sometimes it's handball, sometimes it isn't, you don't know. [Marco Asensio](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/195821/Marco-Asensio) handled the ball in the box and the referee awarded a penalty following a VAR check, with Stuani stepping up to the spot and sending [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) the wrong way to level the score. [Federico Valverde](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/235818/Federico-Valverde) to put the ball into the six-yard box where [Vinicius](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/257039/Vinicius) was on hand to tap it into the net.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland has reaction and analysis from the Bernabeu. JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Post-match ...

Their final game before the break is a Copa del Rey trip to third-tier Quintanar Rey (Nov. Girona: They're in a relegation battle whether they'd like to admit it or not, and have two huge LaLiga games before the World Cup break, hosting Athletic Club (Nov. 7) and a home date with Cadiz (Nov. Then Gazzaniga tried to bring the ball towards him, and that's when Rodrygo touches it. Ancelotti on the disallowed goal: "It's true that when the goalkeeper touches the ball, if Rodrygo touches it then, it's a foul. The position of his left hand is strange, but he doesn't touch it with his left hand. They held their own against the Spanish and European champions and came away with a point. But that's exactly what Girona did, and they were rewarded with a valuable point in their bid to stay in LaLiga. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on the penalty call: "It isn't a penalty. There will be no margin for error in the two league games that Madrid have left to play against Rayo Vallecano and Cadiz before the World Cup break. He was then sent off for the first time in his career. That result didn't matter much, given that Madrid have already qualified for the round of 16, but a win here was absolutely necessary after Barcelona had kept the pressure on them with a late 1-0 win at Valencia a day earlier.