Madrid were in the midst of a good moment. They're currently second in La Liga having taken 31 points from their opening 11 fixtures. Barcelona was currently ahead of them on goal difference - but they played a game more than their great rivals from the Spanish capital. To regain first place Madrid was in need of a win or draw against Girona.

Madrid lost two of their four LaLiga matches against Girona; their highest losing percentage (50%) against any opponent in the competition.

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To turn things right Madrid made two changes from the side that beat Sevilla 3-1 last weekend. Rudiger replaced Militao in defense and Camavinga came in for Tchouameni in midfield.

REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos; Federico Valverde, Rodrgyo, Vinicius Junior.

SUBS: Andriy Lunin, Luis Lopez, Eder Militao, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Odriozola, Lucas Vazquez, Dani Ceballos, Mariano Diaz.

📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜 🆚 @GironaFC! #RealMadridGirona pic.twitter.com/ZsI0b8vENZ

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (Hive account@realmadriden) October 30, 2022

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Girona are a side with very different ambitions to Madrid. They've just been promoted from Segunda and are focused on trying to avoid relegation at the first time of asking. The Catalan side were second from bottom in 19th having taken nine points from their opening eleven games. Securing an unlikely away victory at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, or even taking a point, they would climb out of the bottom three and climb as high as 16th.

For the survival against the mighty Girona made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Osasuna last weekend. Gutierrez replaced Hernandez in defense, Martinez came in for Vallejo to accommodate a formation change and dropped to center-back, while Fernandez started in place of Villa on the left.

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GIRONA XI (5-4-1): Paulo Gazzaniga; Yan Couto, Santiago Bueno, Arnau Martinez, David Lopez, Miguel Gutierrez; Yangel Herrera, Oriol Romeu, Aleix Garcia, Valery Fernandez; Valentin Castellanos.

SUBS: Juan Carlos Martin, Toni Fuidias, Bernardo Espinosa, Cristhian Stuani, Ramon Terrats, Toni Villa, Javi Hernandez, Rodrigo Riquelme, Reinier, Ivan Martin, Manu Vallejo, Ricard Artero.

ONZE!! 💪🔴⚪️#RealMadridGirona #GironaFC pic.twitter.com/ri6PfFoHWl

— Girona FC (@GironaFC) October 30, 2022

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Madrid started well and wanted to clinch an early lead. The task ahead of themselves was to break down Girona - the visitors were playing in a low block and are defending compactly. Madrid saw most of the ball yet they're failing to break Girona down. There's a tangible sense of frustration at the Bernabeu. Madrid just wasn't impressive in the first half. While Girona were good value for the draw - they had the best chances in what's been a pretty low-intensity first half.

There were 58,367 people in attendance at the Santiago Bernabeu but the atmosphere at Santiago Bernabeu was flat. Madrid needed to step things up a gear in the second half in order to liven the crowd up and increase the intensity in what's been a rather uninspiring encounter so far. Madrid wasn't sharp but it was Gazzaniga who wasn't allowing Madrid to find the net. Time was running out for Madrid while Girona were close to their goal. What a superb performance from the goalie!

La seguretat està garantida! 🧤@GazzanigaPaulo #LaLigaHighlights @LaLiga pic.twitter.com/2vD8LxhJmq

— Girona FC (@GironaFC) October 30, 2022

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• 5 saves

• 2 High Claims

• 1 Clearances

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All of this performance seemed pointless when Vinicius put Madrid 1-0 up. A fine sequence of build-up play culminated with Valverde squaring the ball across the face of the goal to find Vinicius at the back post - the Brazilian timed his run to perfection and easily converted his chance.

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The happiness didn't last long when VAR drew the official's attention to an Asensio handball on 77’. The images showed the ball came off the Madridista's stomach first, but after heading to the monitor, Melero López pointed to the spot and Stuani stepped up to make it 1-1. Even after checking the VAR how this could stand? Was the referee out of his mind? Doesn't he know the basic rules? Madness! The ball hit Asensio's stomach first and then hit the slightest of his hand while his right hand was close to his body. If there was no rebound it's definitely a penalty but the rebound was clear as crystal.

⚽️80' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DEL GIRONAAAAAAAA! STUAAAAAANI!@realmadrid 1-1 Girona FC#RealMadridGirona pic.twitter.com/0YwX00NDzT

— Girona FC (@GironaFC) October 30, 2022

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The referee didn't stop there Rodrygo had the ball in the net but the referee flagged for a foul and disallowed it - the Brazilian is judged to have fouled Gazzaniga in the moment before the goal is scored. Well as far as I saw the goalie wasn't in control of the ball, so it can't be a foul. Even the opposition Manager himself claimed that it was a goal and it should have stood.
What's the meaning of VAR then?

By the way do you know that Real Madrid has stopped endorsing LaLiga on their banners! Fishy, indeed!!

Let me remind you that LaLiga already once apologized to Madrid for disallowing Alaba's goal this season. Not again! It's Madrid who are suffering.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nevertheless, it's gone and Madrid have to work hard now as the game wasn't up to the standard of Madrid. The buildup was slow and Girona were at Madrid's neck all the time which they failed to overcome. On the other hand, Girona can breathe now as for now they are out of relegation and that's what exactly they were seeking.

Madrid host Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday before traveling to Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga next Monday evening. Girona welcome Athletic Bilbao to their corner of Catalonia on Friday night.

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