Real Madrid Held Again as Winless Run Stretches to Three; Questions Grow Over Vini Jr. and Bellingham’s Inconsistency

Posted on December 1, 2025 by SoccerPunter

Real Madrid’s domestic frustration deepened on Sunday after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at Montilivi, stretching their winless run in LaLiga to three consecutive matches. Kylian Mbappé’s second-half penalty salvaged a point after Azzedine Ounahi fired the hosts ahead, but the result saw Los Blancos slip to second in the table with 33 points — one behind leaders Barcelona.

The stalemate follows previous draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche, tightening the top of the league standings. Villarreal now sit third with 32 points, while Atletico Madrid are fourth on 31, leaving only three points separating the top four teams in a tense early title race.

Dominance Without Sharpness

Despite controlling possession and territory for large stretches of the match, Real Madrid once again struggled to convert their superiority into clear chances. Girona adopted a compact, disciplined defensive block, absorbing pressure and striking decisively on the counter.

Paulo Gazzaniga was called into action early, producing fine saves to deny Eder Militão and Vinícius Júnior, but Madrid’s final ball often lacked precision. The visitors’ frustration grew shortly before halftime when Mbappé had a potential opener ruled out for handball following a VAR intervention.

Just two minutes later, the momentum swung. Girona launched a swift counter-attack through Viktor Tsygankov, whose perfectly measured low cross found Ounahi. The Moroccan midfielder blasted a powerful effort into the top corner, giving Courtois no chance and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Courtois and Gazzaniga Shine in a Duel of Goalkeepers

The second half opened with Madrid pushing higher in search of an equaliser, but Girona continued to pose a threat. In the 56th minute, Vladyslav Vanat was sent through on goal, only to be denied by a spectacular reflex save from Courtois — a moment that kept Madrid alive.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 67th minute. Vinícius Júnior danced past multiple defenders before being brought down in the box, earning a penalty which Mbappé dispatched coolly into the bottom-left corner.

Gazzaniga then took centre stage, producing several crucial saves to stop Vinícius and Mbappé from completing the comeback. Courtois later denied Joel Roca at the other end as both goalkeepers delivered standout performances.

Controversy resurfaced in the 80th minute when Rodrygo appeared to be tripped inside the area, but the referee waved play on, igniting furious protests from the visitors.

Mbappé nearly won it in stoppage time, but curled his effort narrowly wide in what proved to be the final chance of the match.

Inconsistency of Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham: A Growing Concern

While Real Madrid continue to dominate possession and create volume, their attacking leadership from Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham has fluctuated in recent weeks — contributing to the club’s inability to close out matches.

Vinícius Júnior: Brilliant but Erratic

Vini Jr. remains Madrid’s most explosive winger, as shown by the dribble that won the penalty. His ability to destabilise defensive lines is unmatched in the squad. However:

• His decision-making remains inconsistent, oscillating between unstoppable runs and moments where he holds the ball too long.
• Finishing has been streaky, with missed chances in key moments contributing to the recent draws.
• Emotional volatility can affect his composure — when tightly marked or targeted physically, his productivity tends to dip.

In matches like this one, Vini’s influence is undeniable, but Madrid increasingly rely on moments of individual brilliance rather than consistent, structured contribution.

Jude Bellingham: A Drop After a Blistering Start

Bellingham’s early-season form — scoring at a historic rate — was always likely to taper off, but his recent performances highlight a more concerning trend:

• His goal involvement has slowed significantly, reducing the secondary-scoring threat Madrid leaned on heavily during the opening months.
• He struggles against deep, compact defences, as Girona once again highlighted. With limited space to drive into, his influence on the match wanes.
• Fatigue may be creeping in, given his heavy workload and importance to the team’s pressing structure.

While Bellingham remains one of Madrid’s most complete midfielders, his impact has been less decisive during the team’s current winless run.

A Systemic Issue or Individual Dip?

Madrid’s recent slump cannot be placed solely on the two players, but their inconsistency amplifies the broader tactical concern:

• Teams sitting deep and compact are repeatedly stifling Madrid.
• Without steady contributions from Vini and Bellingham, the attack becomes overly dependent on Mbappé.
• The lack of a natural striker in the starting XI further increases the burden on them to create and finish chances.

If Real Madrid are to regain top spot and steady their title push, they will need greater consistency from both stars — especially in matches where fine margins define the result.