Real Madrid misinterpreted its dress rehearsal for Munich and took another step backward in LaLiga, lacking in football and in character. They showed attitude at the start, found the advantage in a classic solution, the old-fashioned rocket from Valverde, and then allowed themselves to be tied, ending with neither shame nor glory.

They claimed a penalty, which it was, on Mbappe in the final stretch, but not even that serves as an excuse for a team that has disconnected from its fans. The fans no longer ask them for football. They ask them to show character. Girona, well organized, earned a hard-fought point with another excellent strike from Lemar.

Madrid came out intense, trying to gain an early advantage. The dress rehearsal for Munich had Eduardo Camavinga in the middle of the pitch, helped by Bellingham, with Valverde and Brahim on the defensive flanks.

In the attack, freedom for the BMV trio is key to aiming for a very complicated comeback in the Champions League. The white team dominated against Girona, which resembled Sporting Gijon with its retro kit, so much so that the numbers on the backs were hard to see. Things from another era.

Michel’s team is a quality opponent, which is why the first relevant chance came after a long, well-connected play that ended with Moroccan Ounahi. Control, a touch to gain angle, and a hard shot, demanding for Lunin.

It was Brahim who appeared most in the white attack. He offered himself in support and into space. He looked for the clever pass, like the one that set up Bellingham’s run that Jude did not connect with fully.

Vinicius looked for his classic diagonal, and Mbappe showed his explosiveness, but in one action, he used his arms to shake off France and make contact with the defender. Alberola called a foul on him, and the Frenchman protested so much that he received a yellow card.

The best white chance in the entire first half was a drive by Carvajal down the right with a cross to Valverde and a good save from Gazzaniga. The full-back, very little used by Arbeloa in recent weeks, did not look out of place at all. Like Fran Garcia, solid defensively.

And like the center backs, Militao and Asencio, the big surprise in Arbeloa’s lineup. All correct in controlling the opponent, but far from enough to change the score. Another white first half thrown in the trash.

It seemed that the white team had returned from the locker room the same. With no changes, they struggled to connect plays. They found the most retro solution. A long-range rocket and off they went. Valverde executed it very hard. It had the help of Gazzaniga, who did not get a hand or forearm to it.

After the 1-0 push, Madrid could and should have put the game away. Because they generated clear chances to do so. Like a wonderful cross from Valverde from the right that Mbappe, late, failed to head. And also because Girona made several mistakes in their buildup, the Los Blancos attack failed to punish. No one suspected what was about to happen.

The substitutions were ready, Arda and Huijsen, because Bellingham was already stiff, and on a transition, the Englishman did not arrive in time to correct. Brahim had dropped back earlier to help Camavinga, who had bad luck. Lemar drove through the middle of the field and unleashed a left-footed shot that went under the Frenchman’s legs, surprising Lunin.

The tie deflated Madrid, who for several minutes feared defeat. Girona did not have clear chances, it is true, but they had the ball and hovered around the area. Because Madrid was unable to win it back or keep possession. The substitutions took the gas out of the white team.

Abel Ruiz came on for Girona, who participated little in the play and suffered another muscular problem. Vinicius and Mbappe got tangled up, and the white substitutions did not help. If there was any chance for the league title, it was slipping away in buckets.

The white team also has reason to be angry with the refereeing crew. Because in an action very similar to the one that cost Mbappe the foul and yellow card, Alberola decided there was no foul on Reis's elbow on the Frenchman, who was left hurt.

Trujillo Suarez stayed silent on the VAR, in homage to retro football, where there was no possibility of correcting the referee. No penalty and no final push. Real Madrid lost interest in LaLiga a long time ago. Either a miracle in Munich or nothing.

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