Football – Leaders Real Madrid extended their winless LaLiga run to three games when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Osasuna yesterday after playing most of the game with 10 men.
Real top the standings with 51 points, with second-placed city rivals Atletico Madrid a point adrift.
Third-placed Barcelona, who are on 48 points, will face Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Real started the game in control and Kylian Mbappe put them ahead in the 15th minute, finishing from close range following a counter attack by Federico Valverde before Jude Bellingham was handed his marching orders following an argument with the referee in the 39th minute.
Osasuna forward Ante Budimir levelled in the 58th minute with a tidy finish from the penalty spot after he was fouled inside the box by Eduardo Camavinga.
Last-year’s champions paid a heavy price for wasting several chances to extend their lead, including a sitter that was missed from close-range by Vinicius Jr, who was otherwise a menace with his runs up and down the left channel.
Osasuna were livelier after the break and Thibaut Courtois made a great reflex save to deny Jon Moncayola’s close-range header in the 55th minute, with Budimir striking the rebound wide of the right post.
The VAR, however, told the referee to review the play and he decided to award a penalty to Osasuna for Camavinga’s stomp on Budimir’s foot.
Real still had chances to snatch a win, with Mbappe wasting a great opportunity from a counter in the 70th minute, and Vinicius Jr almost scored a fantastic individual goal five minutes later, dribbling past three defenders and the goalkeeper but his effort was headed off the goalline by Catena.