The Blancos’ seven-game unbeaten run came to an end after an abysmal performance as Sergio Ramos also saw red.
As quickly as Real Madrid’s title hopes reignited, they were extinguished.
All the momentum and hope Santiago Solari’s side have generated in recent weeks was quashed by a diabolical second-half performance against Girona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A 1-0 lead became a 2-1 defeat in two easy steps, with veteran duo Marcelo and Sergio Ramos both to blame.
The Brazilian left-back will take most of the flak, deservedly, after a shambolic performance which shows why Sergio Reguilon has taken his place in the first team.
With Girona having suffered six consecutive defeats in all competitions and without a win in 13 matches, Solari figured he could rotate.
So Marcelo came back in, along with Marco Asensio on the left flank in place of Real Madrid’s man-of-the-moment, Vinicius Junior.
Dani Ceballos replaced Luka Modric in midfield too and all the changes seemed to upset Madrid’s rhythm.
Even in the first half when they moved ahead through Casemiro’s header, they weren’t playing well.
Like Barcelona on Saturday in their narrow win over Real Valladolid, Madrid were playing badly but Girona were even worse, and that’s how Los Blancos took a one goal lead in at half-time.
The match was a scrappy, bitty affair, with both sets of players looking like the midday kick-off had left them short of a few hours’ sleep.
