La Liga result as Mbappe’s opener cancelled out following Bellingham red card

REAL MADRID DEALT BLOW AS BELLINGHAM SEES RED

Real Madrid took a dent to their La Liga title challenge as they were held to a 1-1 draw away against Osasuna following Jude Bellingham’s red card for dissent.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring for Los Blancos after a dominant opening 15 minutes as he swept home from close range for his seventh goal in five league games.

The visitors were getting increasingly frustrated, though, throughout the opening period as several key decisions went against them, and Bellingham was given a straight red card just before the interval following a lengthy complaint against the referee. 

The hosts made the extra man pay early on in the second half as Ante Budimir slotted home from the spot for his 13th goal of the season following Eduardo Camavinga’s rash challenge on the striker.

Despite being a man down, it was the visitors who searched for a winner following the equaliser.

They came closest to finding it when Vinicius Junior went on a jinking run and rounded the keeper but saw his effort headed over the bar, before Mbappe squandered a one-on-one in the closing stages.

After Vinicius, Bellingham and Valverde were all denied penalties in the first half, Real’s frustrations continued in the second period as the Brazilian winger and Mbappe felt they had been fouled in the box.

Carlo Ancelotti cut an agitated figure on the touchline throughout the 90 minutes and was booked in the opening period for his protestations to the referee.

It is the second week running that Real have conceded a penalty, and they were equally displeased with the officials following their 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Los Blancos move two points clear at the top of La Liga as a result of the point but they could finish the weekend in third with Atletico and Barcelona yet to play.

Atletico will go one point clear of their local rivals if they triumph against Celta Vigo this evening, while a Barcelona win on Monday night against Rayo Vallecano would see the Catalan side leapfrog Los Blancos on goal difference.

Ancelotti’s men have now picked up just two points from their last three games in the league and will be looking for their first win in four as they host Girona next weekend.

Up first though, is the second leg of their Uefa Champions League knockout phase play-off with Manchester City at the Bernabeu on Wednesday- live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

As for Osasuna, their 11th draw this season takes them up to seventh. They have now extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games but have picked up just one win in that run.