Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday as the reigning champions maintained their unbeaten streak in La Liga to hold a one-point lead over Barcelona.
After a goalless first half, Real opened the scoring through Vinicius Jr in the 70th minute but their lead was cancelled out by a Cristhian Stuani penalty 10 minutes later.
Both sides had their chances in a goalless first half with Real’s Rodrygo, leading the attack in the absence of Karim Benzema, coming the closest for the hosts when his shot came off the post.
At the other end, Girona threatened on the counter-attack, with skipper Valery Fernandez firing a header just wide while Yangel Herrera saw his powerful strike cannon off the crossbar.
Real were frustrated for more than an hour but finally made the breakthrough when their patient build-up play allowed Federico Valverde to put the ball into the six-yard box where Vinicius was on hand to tap it into the net.
Last-gasp winner
Barcelona were on the brink of another setback when Robert Lewandowski stretched out his right boot and found the winner. The Poland striker’s goal in stoppage time snatched a 1-0 victory at Valencia on Saturday.
While failing to find the net in losses against Madrid and former club Bayern Munich, Lewandowski is enjoying some great form in the Spanish league with a league-high 13 goal in 12 rounds.
He again made up for the poor finishing of teammates in Valencia when he steered a lobbed pass by Raphinha home for the late breakthrough.
Cadiz beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 after Ruben Sobrino knocked in a cross just before the final whistle to tilt the seesaw contest finally in the hosts’ favour.
Injury worries
France defender Jules Kounde, Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, Spain striker Álvaro Morata and Spain defender Eric García all were substituted injured. Kounde and Garcia, both Barcelona players, were substituted in the second half. Cavani went down early for Valencia, grimacing as he walked off.