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FLYING HIGH

MADRID:Real Madrid’s resurgent La Liga run skidded to a halt as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home by struggling Girona on Sunday in which captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in added time, leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

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MADRID, February 17 

Real Madrid’s resurgent La Liga run skidded to a halt as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home by struggling Girona on Sunday in which captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in added time, leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona. 

Real looked on course for a sixth consecutive league win when Casemiro leapt highest to meet a Toni Kroos cross and head them in front midway through the first half.

But Girona, who had not won in the league since November, came out with a vengeance in the second half, levelling in the 65th minute with a Cristhian Stuani penalty after a handball by Ramos. 

Spanish striker Cristian Portu gave Girona an unlikely lead 10 minutes later, nipping in front of Madrid’s lacklustre defender Marcelo to nod in on the rebound after Thibaut Courtois could only parry a shot from visiting forward Anthony Lozano.

Madrid substitutes Gareth Bale and Vinicius Jr each squandered opportunities to level and things got worse when Ramos earned a second yellow card in stoppage time and was sent off for the 25th time in club football.

Real goalkeeper Courtois came close to salvaging an equaliser late on but headed wide, leaving Real third in the standings on 45 points, nine behind table toppers Barcelona and two behind second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Madrid had eased to a 7-3 aggregate win over Girona in the Copa del Rey last month, and with the Catalans sitting one point above the relegation zone and having lost their six previous games, a home win seemed highly likely.

Coach Santiago Solari made six changes from the team that beat Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 in a Champions League last-16 first leg, handing breakout forward Vinicius Jr a rest after 12 consecutive starts and also benching Bale.

But perhaps his biggest mistake was handing the out-of-form left back Marcelo a first league start since January 6.

Girona attacked Marcelo’s right wing throughout the second half, with Portu enjoying particular freedom, thumping the near post moments before he headed in the winning goal.

Messi penalty

Barcelona: Lionel Messi scored one penalty and missed another as Barcelona beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday to open up a seven-point lead at the top of La Liga. The Catalans played far below their vibrant best but were not troubled by the visitors at the Nou Camp as they ended a run of three consecutive draws in all competitions.

Ousmane Dembele was handed his first start after injury, and loan signing Kevin-Prince Boateng featured for only the second time since joining in January as coach Ernesto Valverde started with Luis Suarez on the bench ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Olympique Lyonnais.

Barcelona struggled to create chances against a tight Valladolid defence, only breaking the deadlock when Messi converted a penalty won by Gerard Pique just before halftime for his 22nd league goal of the season.

Messi almost scored his second early in the second half but former Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip pulled off a breathtaking stop to deny La Liga’s top scorer from close range. The Argentine had another chance from the penalty spot in the final stages after substitute Philippe Coutinho was fouled but Masip made another impressive save to deny him.

“We didn’t move the ball as quickly as we needed to,” said Valverde. 

At times it seemed like Barcelona’s minds were already drifting towards the return of the Champions League, with only Pique performing particularly well on his 300th La Liga appearance for the club. “We weren’t the Barca we wanted to be today,” said Pique. — Reuters

300 La Liga appearances Gerard Pique has made for Barcelona

22 La Liga goals Lionel Messi has scored so far this season. He is currently leading the chart 

25 Times Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos has been sent off in club football

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