Although reduced to ten from the 54th minute and the exclusion of its captain, Nacho Fernandez, Real scored by Lucas Vazquez with a header from a corner hit on the left side by Toni Kroos (90 2). Real ends the year in the lead, tied on points but with a favorable goal difference with Girona (2nd), hung at the end of the match (1-1) a little earlier in the evening in Seville by Betis.
In 18 days, Real is also the only team in La Liga to have beaten Girona this season: 3-0 in Catalonia on September 30 during the 8th day. In the Basque Country, Alavés (16th) was trapped in added time against Real who, however, had hardly been dangerous until then.
Vazquez’s goal, however, came to punish the excessive caution of the locals, who never knew how to take advantage of their numerical advantage. Nacho Fernandez was very logically excluded for a very nasty foul on striker Samuel “Samu” Omorodion (54th). After being alerted by the video assistance, the referee of the match Isidro Diaz de Mera sent a direct red card to the Madrid central defender.
In Seville, Girona opened the scoring from the penalty spot, whistled for a foul by Aitor Ruibal on Brazilian striker Savio and converted with great composure by Artem Dovbyk (39th). The Ukrainian left-hander has now scored eleven goals this season, including three penalties. While the Catalan club seemed to be heading towards its fifteenth victory of the season, Betis, dominant in the second half, logically equalized through their captain German Pezzella (88th).
The Argentinian scored following a corner taken from the right and a scramble in front of the Girona goal, guarded by another Argentinian, Paulo Gazzaniga. Real Betis, which was deprived of its French playmaker Nabil Fekir on Thursday due to a hip injury, remains seventh after this fourth draw in a row in La Liga.
Silent on Thursday evening, Real’s English striker Jude Bellingham remains at the top of the scorers’ standings (13), ahead of Borja Mayoral (Getafe, 12), Artem Dovbyk (Girona, 11) and Antoine Griezmann (Atlético, 11). On Saturday, Atlético Madrid (4th, 3 pts from Barça) will play a late match on the 4th day against Sevilla FC (16th) then the championship will resume on January 2, 3 and 4. Girona will host Atlético Madrid and Real will host Mallorca (14th).