Real Madrid 1-1 Girona result: Los Blancos lose more ground in La Liga title race as Thomas Lemar earns point

Real Madrid failed to win for a third game in a row as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at the Bernabeu on Friday.

The result means that Madrid now trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by six points, with Hansi Flick’s side having the chance to further their lead at home to Espanyol on Saturday.

In an electric start to the first half of Friday’s game, Madrid piled the pressure on the Girona goal but could not find their way through, as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all threatened to break the deadlock.

Girona had their chances too, but it was Madrid who eventually opened the scoring through Federico Valverde in the second half, whose long-range strike was too hot for Paulo Gazzaniga to handle as his fierce effort ripped through the goalkeeper and into the net.

However, they could not hold on to their lead for very long as former Atletico Madrid forward Thomas Lemar equalised, expertly cutting in from the left and wrapping his foot around the ball to send it beyond Andriy Lunin.

Madrid were not at their inspiring best, as seen in their last two games, which ended in defeat against Mallorca and Bayern Munich, as their campaign has quickly spiralled out of control.

Not only is the result another damaging blow to their title chances, but Los Blancos would have wanted to deliver an inspiring result ahead of their UEFA Champions League second leg against Bayern, where they face a huge challenge.

They were beaten 2-1 at home against the German giants to set up a tense second leg on Wednesday - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - and they face the very real threat of a trophyless season.

But they're running out of time.

Girona are holding firm as they defend countless waves of Blancos attacks.

Madrid have six minutes to win this! Or can Girona cause an even bigger upset?

The referee signals that he won't go over to the monitor and play will continue with a Madrid free-kick on then left of the box, which was won before play stopped for that potential penalty.

Guler's set-piece doesn't beat the one-man wall...

Mbappe gets the ball in the box again and it looks as though he was tripped and then caught by a flailing arm from Vitor Reis on the edge of the six-yard box.

Play has stopped and they're having a look at this!

Mbappe breaks into the box from the right and cuts inside on his left foot, but instead of bending the ball around the goalkeeper, he hits it straight at him.

The visitors also make a change as they look to hold on to what would be a valuable point.

The last role of the dice?

Plus added time, of course, but time is running out for Madrid.

He is the next Madrid player to be thrown into the action.

Madrid are trailing Barca by six points as it stands, and will have played a game more, but that doesn't translate to what we're seeing on the pitch.

It's slow, lacklustre and generally quite poor from Arbeloa's side at the moment.

You would expect them to be throwing everything at it by this point, but perhaps they are biding their time for the next few minutes...

Unless they can find a winner in the final 15 minutes or so, it will be the first time they have failed to win three games in a row since November.

The goalscorer Lemar comes off, along with Azzedine Ounahi and Claudio Echeverri.

On comes ex-Spurs player Bryan Gil, Hugo Rincón and Abel Ruiz

Bellingham and Militao are off as Dean Huijsen and Arda Guler come on.

On old enemy territory too...

That is a huge blow for the hosts, who are desperate for three points here!

The former Atletico Madrid man has Girona on level terms!

He picks the ball up outside the box, shifts inside onto his left and wraps his foot around an excellent effort which Lunin can't get to!

Game on!

The Girona keeper comes hurtling out of his box and looks to clear a ball near the touchline, but instead of just putting it out for a throw, he kicks it in the middle of the pitch towards Bellingham.

Fortunately for him, Madrid can't get the ball under control in time to have a go at an empty net, and Gazzaniga gets away with it!

It's been a long time coming...

As things stand, Madrid are four points off Barcelona in first, who will have a game in hand.