Real Madrid drop vital points! Winners & losers as Kroos sees red and Rodyrgo denied late winner vs Girona

Real Madrid looked to be heading for all three points when Vinicius Jr stole in and poked Los Blancos ahead at the Santiago Bernabeu but Cristhian Stuani ensured Girona took home a precious point.

The visitors were awarded a penalty after substitute Marco Asensio handled in the penalty area and there was a sense of inevitability when Stuani stepped up to take the kick.

Stuani had scored three goals on his last two visits to the Bernabeu and made no mistake from the spot, sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to make it 1-1.

No player has now scored more goals away from home against Real Madrid in La Liga than Stuani, and the goal also secured a draw and a precious point for the struggling Catalans.

Marco Asensio was once again on the bench for Real Madrid but was offered the chance to impress after replacing Eduardo Camavinga just after the hour mark.

The forward did have a chance to make it 2-0, and potentially end the game as a contest, but saw a powerful effort saved by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Things then got even worse for the substitute when he was penalised for handball inside the penalty area, handing the visitors the perfect chance to equalise which they did not pass up.

There were few Real Madrid players who really impressed against Girona but Fede Valverde continues to be the pick of the bunch.

Valverde has scored some sensational goals in recent weeks and was involved in all of Real Madrid's best moments against Girona.

There was no goal for the Uruguay international this time around but he did supply the superb cross from which Vinicius Junior opened the scoring.

Valverde has now been involved in 10 goals for Los Blancos already this season, more than in his last two seasons combined.

Rodrygo headed into the game against Girona in good form with eight goals in nine games in La Liga and would surely have fancied his chances of adding to his tally.

The Brazilian would also have known that Girona were arriving without having managed a clean sheet all season in La Liga.

Rodrygo could, and probably should, have opened the scoring in the first half but was denied when his low shot hit the post.

A frustrating game for the youngster brought few chances but he did manage to bundle the ball into the back of the net late on which he thought, just for a second, was the winner for Real Madrid.

Unfortunately for Rodrygo, the goal was ruled out after a VAR check as Gazzaniga had been deemed to have had the ball under control before the Brazilian nicked it away.

Real Madrid's draw against Girona sees Carlo Ancelotti's side drop points for just the second time this season in La Liga, although they do remain unbeaten in the Spanish top flight.

The point is enough to take Los Blancos back to the top of the table but only one point ahead of bitter rivals Barcelona in second place.

Real Madrid comfortably saw off the Catalans in El Clasico but Xavi's side have responded with big wins over Athletic Club and Villarreal.

Barca also beat Valencia 1-0 on Saturday, thanks to a late Robert Lewandowski goal, to put the pressure on Real Madrid and have seen their title hopes boosted by the draw at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid actually ended Sunday's match with 10 men after Kroos was handed his second yellow card of the match in stoppage time.

The Germany international had initially been booked for an ugly challenge on Yann Couto that resulted in the Girona youngster having to go off injured.

Kroos then picked up his second yellow of the afternoon for a tactical foul to see red for the first time in his professional career.