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Real Madrid Held by Girona as VAR Row Erupts Before Bayern Return

The stalemate extends Madrid's skid to three matches, raising pressure before the Munich second leg.

Overview

  • Real Madrid, which drew 1-1 with Girona on Friday, led through Federico Valverde before Thomas Lemar equalised to extend the hosts’ winless run to three games in all competitions.
  • The result leaves Madrid six points behind leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand and can move nine clear with a win over Espanyol on Saturday.
  • Madrid protested a late non-call when Kylian Mbappé was caught in the face in the box, with Álvaro Arbeloa calling it “a penalty here and on the moon” as VAR left the on-field decision in place.
  • Bayern Munich hold a 2-1 first-leg lead from Tuesday’s quarter-final at the Bernabéu, and Madrid now head to the Allianz Arena next week with Arbeloa insisting his side will travel to win.
  • Bayern confirmed 18-year-old Lennart Karl has a right hamstring muscle-fibre tear and is expected to miss about three weeks, while Vincent Kompany signalled light rotation for domestic play and said Harry Kane reported no setback.