Real Madrid held 1-1 by Girona, fail to win for third game in a row

AlavésAthletic ClubAtlético MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealPodcastsCopa del ReyReal Madrid held 1-1 by Girona, fail to win for third game in a rowThe result leaves Madrid six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona. Denis Doyle/Getty Images Share full articleReal Madrid drew 1-1 with Girona on Friday, leaving the 36-time La Liga champions winless in their last three games. Madrid were denied a penalty late on in the game, prompting head coach Alvaro Arbeloa to criticise the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The result leaves Madrid six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, who are in action against rivals Espanyol on Saturday. After a goalless first half, midfielder Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 51st minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga could not keep out. However, Thomas Lemar, on loan at Girona from Atletico Madrid, equalised with a fierce strike of his own just 11 minutes later, firing into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the Madrid penalty area. Madrid thought they deserved a penalty in the 87th minute after Kylian Mbappe went to ground after appearing to be struck by the arm of Vitor Reis in the box, though Reis had his back to the France international, and the incident was not reviewed by VAR. “It’s a penalty here and on the moon,” Arbeloa said after the game. “It’s just another one, another week. That’s the way it is. “Neither I nor anyone else understands it (VAR). I suppose it’s used when it suits and when it doesn’t, it isn’t.” Madrid had 61 per cent possession and 22 total shots to Girona’s 10, but were unable to find a way through for the rest of the game. This result was Arbeloa’s first draw in charge of the side, having overseen 19 wins and six defeats since taking over the team in January following the sacking of Xabi Alonso. The team’s last win came on March 22 in the Madrid derby against Atletico, with Vinicius Junior scoring the winner. Arbeloa added that he did not believe the La Liga title race was over, despite the gap to Barca. “I’ll feel that way the day we lose it,” he said. “If that day comes, we’ll have no choice but to go out and defend this badge. This is Real Madrid, and we have no choice but to go out and fight.” After the international break, Madrid lost 2-1 to Mallorca on April 4, with Arbeloa saying that he took responsibility for the result. “This defeat is mine, absolutely,” Arbeloa said. “I told the players that. I’m the one who makes the decisions.” On Tuesday, Madrid fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, with the second leg taking place at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms