After Real Madrid's 2-1 setback away to Girona, Zinedine Zidane's men are stuck on 20 points. You have to go all the way back to 2005-06, his final season as a player, to find the last time they were worse off after 10 games. Barcelona are eight points clear (more on this later) and in outright gloating mode. More of a concern, though, was Madrid's performance against a newly promoted opponent who had won just once at home this season.
There are no real excuses here. Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal are out, but Madrid are used to it by now. Portu was probably offside for Girona's winner, but that doesn't change the fact that the home team also hit the woodwork twice and created the better chances. (Wheel out the expected goals and it's 2.44 to 1.58: it marks the first time Madrid have not won the xG in a Liga game since 2016 and the draw in the December Clasico.)
"Many times we drew matches, but we were creating chances... not today," said Casemiro. "It concerns us all that we are very far [from where we want to be]."
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