Real Madrid may see its Spanish league lead diminished after being held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, whereas last-place Almeria made historical past for the improper cause by turning into the primary group to go 28 straight video games with out a league win.
The draw moved Madrid six factors away from second-place Girona, which visits fifth-place Athletic Bilbao on Monday.(AFP)
Almeria drew 1-1 at Granada for its twenty fifth consecutive winless recreation this season. It additionally hadn’t gained its final three matches final season.
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Madrid was annoyed in its first match because it emerged that Kylian Mbappé will depart Paris Saint-Germain on the finish of the season, opening the door for an additional try by the Spanish powerhouse to signal the France star.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was requested if all of the speak in regards to the attainable signing of Mbappé had affected his group.
“When has this team lacked concentration?” Ancelotti stated. “It’s tough to say anything bad about this team this season.”
Joselu put Madrid forward solely three minutes into the match towards its southern Madrid rival, however the hosts equalized by way of a penalty kick transformed by Raúl de Tomás within the twenty seventh.
The draw moved Madrid six factors away from second-place Girona, which visits fifth-place Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
Third-place Barcelona, which gained 2-1 at Celta Vigo on Saturday with a stoppage-time penalty kick transformed by Robert Lewandowski, was eight factors behind Madrid. Fourth-place Atletico Madrid, which routed Las Palmas 5-0 at residence Saturday, was 11 factors off the lead.
It was a disappointing outcome for Madrid towards a Rayo group that had misplaced three consecutive league matches and hasn’t gained in seven straight.
“We want to win every game, but to win the league you can’t lose the games you can’t win,” Ancelotti stated. “Sometimes there are attracts that harm, however they could be a optimistic step towards profitable the league.”
Real Madrid stays unbeaten in its final 19 league video games, with 14 wins and 5 attracts. It did not scored solely as soon as, in a 0-0 draw towards Rayo in November.
Madrid was nonetheless with out Jude Bellingham, who sprained his ankle within the win towards Girona final weekend. Brahim Díaz changed him once more, taking part in alongside Vinícius Júnior in assault.
Luka Modric, who hasn’t began typically this season, was in midfield, whereas Aurélien Tchouaméni once more improvised as a central defender alongside Nacho Hernández.
Toni Kroos got here off the bench within the second half to make his 450th look with Madrid.
Rayo was debuting coach Íñigo Pérez, the 36-year-old former midfielder who’s on his first stint as a head coach. He changed Francisco Rodríguez following a run of poor outcomes.
The membership’s winless streak at house is now at 10 consecutive video games. It sits in 14th place, eight factors from the relegation zone.
Madrid proper again Dani Carvajal, who entered the match within the seventy fifth, was despatched off deep into stoppage time with a second yellow card.
WINLESS ALMERIA
Almeria surpassed the streak of 27 video games with out a league win that Levante recorded in 2021 and 2022. The worst winless run in a single season had belonged to Sporting Gijon.
Almeria, a Saudi-owned membership, went forward by way of Marc Pubill within the ninth minute however the hosts equalized with Myrto Uzuni’s objective within the seventy fifth.
Granada is second-to-last within the standings, forward of Almeria and behind Cadiz, which hasn’t gained in 21 straight league video games this season.
SOCIEDAD WINS LATE
Sixth-place Real Sociedad ended its five-game winless streak throughout all tournaments with a 2-1 victory at Mallorca because of a stoppage-time objective by Mikel Merino.
Japan worldwide Takefusa Kubo additionally scored for Sociedad. Antonio Sánchez had put Mallorca forward 4 minutes into the match.
Mallorca, in sixteenth place, had Antonio Raíllo despatched off in first-half stoppage time with consecutive yellow playing cards — the second after applauding the referee. Mallorca additionally noticed Siebe van der Heyden despatched off in second-half stoppage time.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
