Girona 1-1 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Kylian Mbappe 8.5/10 Rated as Los Blancos Failed to Win Yet Another Away Game

What a rollercoaster of a match at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. This was a classic tactical battle that ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw between Girona and Real Madrid. The home side showed incredible bravery, refusing to be intimidated by their star-studded visitors. They looked to have pulled off a masterstroke with a goal right at halftime.

That moment of brilliance came from Azzedine Ounahi, whose strike sent the home fans into delirium. Before that, Real Madrid thought they had the lead through Kylian Mbappé, only for VAR to deny them cruelly. That moment felt like a massive swing in momentum. You could feel the energy shift inside the stadium.

The second half, however, was a different story. Real Madrid came out with renewed purpose, piling on the pressure until the dam finally broke. A clumsy challenge led to a penalty, and who else but Mbappé to step up and coolly convert it. In the end, a draw in this match felt like a fair reflection of a game where both sides had periods of dominance. It's a massive point for Girona in their La Liga campaign, but it will feel like two dropped for Madrid. Here are the Girona vs Real Madrid player ratings.

Girona Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Check out the Girona player ratings for the Girona vs Real Madrid fixture.

Goalkeeper

Paulo Gazzaniga - 7.0: A commanding presence in goal. He made some crucial saves, especially a key stop from an Éder Militão header. His distribution was a bit mixed, but what stood out to us was his bravery in claiming high balls. He did get a yellow card for time-wasting, showing his gamesmanship. He couldn't do anything about the penalty, which was perfectly placed.

Defenders

Hugo Rincón - 5.0: A really difficult night for the young defender. From our perspective, he looked nervous going up against the pace of Vinicius Junior. The clumsy challenge for the penalty was a moment he'll want to forget quickly. It was a rash decision that ultimately cost his team two points. He was subbed off, and it was probably for the best as his confidence looked shot.

Arnau Martínez - 7.5: A true captain's performance. What a rock at the back. He was immense, winning every single one of his five tackles and making six crucial clearances. We noticed he was the one organizing the backline, constantly shouting and pointing. He led by example and was a huge reason why Madrid found it so hard to score from open play. A standout display.

Vitor Reis - 7.0: Another solid brick in the Girona wall. He was aerially dominant, winning several important headers and making an incredible 11 clearances. He nearly scored from a set-piece, showing his threat in the opposition box. His partnership with Martinez was formidable. He did get dribbled past once but his overall positional play was excellent.

Álex Moreno - 7.0: A very steady and reliable performance. He contributed eight clearances and won most of his duels. He wasn't spectacular going forward but he did his defensive duties with diligence. From our view, he kept his side of the pitch locked down effectively. He was a quiet achiever on a night where his side needed defensive solidity.

Midfielders

Viktor Tsygankov - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for Ounahi's goal. He was a constant creative outlet for Girona before being substituted. What we noticed was his intelligent movement, always looking for pockets of space. He created two chances and was always looking to make something happen. A shame he couldn't complete the full game.

Azzedine Ounahi - 8.0: Our man of the match for Girona. That goal was a thing of beauty, a fantastic strike that lit up the match. Beyond the goal, he was buzzing with energy, creating chances and driving the team forward. He was the heartbeat of the midfield and his performance really surprised us in the best way. His yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise superb night.

Axel Witsel - 7.0: The calm head in the middle of the park. He just kept everything simple and effective. His pass completion rate was high, and he recycled possession intelligently. He provided the screen in front of the defense that allowed others to flourish. A very composed and experienced performance when his team needed it most.

Bryan Gil - 6.0: A quiet and somewhat disappointing game for him. He worked hard off the ball but struggled to make any real impact in possession. From our perspective, he seemed a bit lost and couldn't find his rhythm. He was subbed off after 72 minutes, and it felt like the right call as he just wasn't influencing the game.

Iván Martín - 6.5: A tireless worker in the midfield. He recovered the ball eight times and made some important tackles. He was more about industry than artistry in this game. He created one big chance which shows his capability, but we felt he was primarily focused on his defensive duties. A solid, if unspectacular, shift.

Forwards

Vladyslav Vanat - 6.5: He put in a real shift up front. He battled for everything, winning a decent number of his duels and holding the ball up when he could. He had one big chance that was well-saved by Thibaut Courtois. He lacked that clinical finishing touch but his work rate was commendable. He definitely played his part in making it a tough night for the Madrid defense.

Substitutes

Joel Roca, Yáser Asprilla, Alejandro Francés, Lancinet Kourouma, Abel Ruiz: None of the substitutes had enough time or impact to warrant a full rating, though they brought fresh legs to help see out the draw.

Manager

M. Sánchez Muñoz - 7.5: His game plan was nearly perfect. He set his team up to be defensively solid and to hit Real Madrid on the counter. The bravery his team showed was a credit to him. Conceding from a penalty was unfortunate, but getting a point against Madrid is a massive achievement. His tactics frustrated the opposition for large parts of the game.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Girona

Check out the Real Madrid player ratings for the Girona vs Real Madrid fixture.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 7.0: Made a couple of really important saves, including a great one to deny Vladyslav Vanat. He stood no chance with Ounahi's goal, which was perfectly placed into the top corner. His distribution was excellent, finding his teammates with impressive accuracy. A reliable performance from the captain on the day.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7.0: A typical performance from him. He was a major creative force, whipping in 10 crosses and creating two chances. His range of passing was, as always, a joy to watch. Defensively, he was okay, winning most of his tackles. However, he did get caught out of position once or twice, which is the trade-off you get with him.

Fran García - 6.5: A solid but unremarkable outing. He was tidy in possession and did his defensive duties without much fuss. He didn't offer the same attacking threat as Alexander-Arnold on the other side. From our view, it was a 'get the job done' kind of performance. He was substituted late on after a decent shift.

Antonio Rüdiger - 7.5: An absolute beast at the back. He was dominant in his duels, winning every single one of them. He recovered the ball nine times and was a commanding presence throughout. His aggression and front-foot defending were key to stopping Girona's counter-attacks. A very strong performance from the German international.

Éder Militão - 7.0: He was a huge threat from set-pieces, forcing two good saves from headers. Defensively he was strong, winning most of his duels and using his pace well. He kept things simple on the ball with a high pass accuracy. A solid partner for Rüdiger at the heart of the defence. He looked strong and confident.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham - 7.5: He was everywhere. An all-action display that we've come to expect from him. He created four chances and was constantly driving forward with the ball. What stood out to us, though, was his incredible defensive work. Ten ball recoveries and three interceptions is a phenomenal return for an attacking midfielder. He did everything but score.

Federico Valverde - 6.5: A slightly subdued performance by his incredibly high standards. He ran his socks off as usual but lacked his typical influence in the final third. He had a couple of shots blocked but didn't create as much as he usually does. It felt like the game passed him by a little bit, which is rare for a player of his quality.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 7.0: Controlled the midfield well for the 72 minutes he was on the pitch. He was great at breaking up play and starting attacks, creating three chances from his deep-lying role. He was a key reason why Madrid dominated possession. We were a bit surprised to see him substituted, as he was playing well.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 7.5: A classic Vini performance: electric, frustrating, and decisive. He was a constant nightmare for Girona's defence and deservedly won the penalty that got his team back in the game. However, he was also incredibly wasteful, taking seven shots and only hitting the target with one. If he had his shooting boots on, Madrid would have won comfortably.

Kylian Mbappé - 8.5: The highest-rated player on the pitch, and for good reason. When Real Madrid needed a hero, he delivered. He showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty under immense pressure. He also created four chances for his teammates and had a goal chalked off by VAR. He was the most dangerous player on the field by a country mile.

Arda Güler - 6.0: It was a tough first half for the young talent. He struggled to get into the game and find space against a compact Girona defence. He had a couple of shots but didn't look comfortable. Being substituted at half-time was a harsh but probably necessary decision from the manager. A learning experience for him.

Substitutes

Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García, Álvaro Carreras: Came on but didn't have a defining impact on the match's outcome, though Camavinga added some much-needed energy in the second half.

Manager

X. Alonso Olano - 7.0: He had to react after going a goal down, and his changes worked. The substitution of Güler at halftime and the push in the second half showed good in-game management. He got his team a point from a losing position. However, his team's initial struggles to break down Girona suggest the initial game plan wasn't quite right.