Watch: Real Madrid superstar left bloodied after nasty blow in Girona draw | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s title hopes took another damaging hit after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Girona, but the result alone does not tell the full story. 

The real talking point came in the closing stages, when a controversial moment involving Kylian Mbappe left the Santiago Bernabeu stunned, and manager Alvaro Arbeloa visibly furious.

With the game finely poised and Real Madrid pushing desperately for a winner, the decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute. 

Mbappe, who had been one of the few bright sparks in attack, picked up the ball on the right flank and drove directly at the Girona defence.

The French forward showed his trademark sharpness, gliding past one challenge and leaving another defender off balance. 

As he entered the penalty area, it looked like he was about to break through for a clear scoring opportunity.

Mbappe left bloodied after heavy contact

However, just as Mbappe attempted to burst past the final defender, contact was made. 

Girona defender Vitor Reis appeared to swing an arm, catching the forward in the face.

As a result, Mbappe went down inside the box and remained on the ground, with blood clearly visible from a cut on his forehead. 

Medical staff rushed onto the pitch to treat the injury, while the stadium erupted in appeals for a penalty.

Replays only added to the controversy, as footage suggested there was clear contact to the face, raising serious questions about why the incident was not penalised.

Referee and VAR decisions spark outrage

Despite the nature of the collision, the referee waved play on – no foul, no penalty, and no further review. 

Even more surprising was the silence from VAR, which chose not to intervene or advise an on-field review.

For Real Madrid, it was a moment that felt impossible to ignore. The lack of action left players and coaching staff frustrated, especially given the importance of the match in the context of the title race.

Ultimately, Real Madrid were unable to recover from the incident or find a late winner, eventually settling for a draw that could prove decisive in La Liga.