Real Madrid encountered a setback in La Liga as they have been held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano, doubtlessly decreasing their lead on the prime.
Meanwhile, Almeria’s struggles continued as they made historical past for the improper causes, changing into the primary group to go 28 consecutive league video games with out a win.
Almeria’s draw in opposition to Granada marked their twenty fifth consecutive winless sport this season, with their final victory relationship again to final season.
The draw in opposition to Rayo Vallecano got here in Madrid’s first match since news broke that Kylian Mbappe will depart Paris Saint-Germain on the finish of the season, resulting in hypothesis a few transfer to the Spanish giants. When requested if the rumors had affected his group, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti remained tight-lipped.
“When has this team lacked concentration?” Ancelotti mentioned. “It’s tough to say anything bad about this team this season.”
Joselu put Madrid forward solely three minutes into the match in opposition to its southern Madrid rival, however the hosts equalized by way of a penalty kick transformed by Raul de Tomas 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 received 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 dwelling Saturday, was 11 factors off the lead.
It was a disappointing consequence for Madrid in opposition to a Rayo group that had misplaced three consecutive league matches and hasn’t received 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 mentioned. “Sometimes there are draws that hurt, but they can be a positive step toward winning the league.”
Real Madrid stays unbeaten in its final 19 league video games, with 14 wins and 5 attracts. It failed to attain solely as soon as, in a 0-0 draw in opposition to Rayo in November.
Madrid was nonetheless with out Jude Bellingham, who sprained his ankle within the win in opposition to Girona final weekend. Brahim Diaz changed him once more, enjoying alongside Vinicius Junior in assault.
Luka Modric, who hasn’t began typically this season, was in midfield, whereas Aurelien Tchouameni 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 Inigo Perez, 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 aim within the seventy fifth.
Granada is second-to-last within the standings, forward of Almeria and behind Cadiz, which hasn’t received in 21 straight league video games this season.
La Real wins late
Sixth-place Real Sociedad ended its five-game winless streak throughout all tournaments with a 2-1 victory at Mallorca due to a stoppage-time aim by Mikel Merino.
Japan worldwide Takefusa Kubo additionally scored for Sociedad. Antonio Sanchez had put Mallorca forward 4 minutes into the match.
Mallorca, in sixteenth place, had Antonio Raillo 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.
Also Sunday, seventh-place Real Betis was held by Twelfth-place Alaves to a 0-0 draw at dwelling.
Source: www.dailysabah.com