Match Summary: Girona vs. Real Madrid
A penalty converted by Kylian Mbappe equalized the score after Girona’s Azzedine Ounahi had initially given his team the lead. Real Madrid, however, felt particularly aggrieved over a penalty appeal concerning Rodrygo Goes that went unanswered.
Xabi’s Post-Match Comments
After the match, Xabi expressed his thoughts on the game, highlighting some key observations:
- Second Half Improvement: “I believe we showed better performance, particularly in the latter half. We pressed more effectively and generated additional opportunities. Unfortunately, we lacked precision in converting those chances to secure all three points. However, the competition remains tight, and the season is long — we must keep pushing forward”;
- On the Penalty Appeal: “I didn’t catch the incident involving Rodrygo, but I have been informed that it was a situation that VAR could have reviewed due to contact. It’s surprising, and we need to analyze it further. These moments are crucial as they can significantly influence the match”.
Reassessing Team Performance
Xabi further elaborated on the team’s current form:
- Season Phases: “Every season has its ups and downs. There were moments at the beginning when we struggled away from home. Recently, we’ve noticed that our second halves are often much stronger than our first, allowing us to stage comebacks”;
- Team Determination: “The players showed a strong desire to overcome the 1-0 deficit. We had multiple clear-cut opportunities in the box to score that winning goal. We must maintain the high expectations that come with being part of Real Madrid”.
With three consecutive draws registered in LaLiga, Xabi concluded,
I have no complaints about the team’s response. Although it wasn’t enough to secure a win today, we were very close. It’s crucial that we keep our unity, maintain self-criticism, and have the ambition to win away from home. We’ll have a chance to prove ourselves on Wednesday in Bilbao.