Real Madrid's LaLiga title hopes were left hanging by a thread after they dropped points for the second consecutive game in a 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Friday.

The result means Madrid will be nine points behind Barcelona with just seven games remaining, if their rivals win at home to Espanyol on Saturday.

It completes a miserable week for the Spanish giants after they followed up a defeat at Mallorca with a 2-1 home loss to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. It's the second time this season, and first since November, that Madrid have suffered a three-game winless streak.

Madrid took the lead at the Bernabeu on Friday when Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga allowed Federico Valverde's shot to slip through his grasp in the 51st minute.

But a fine effort from Thomas Lemar just 11 minutes later brought Girona level and Madrid failed to find a winner, despite a late penalty appeal when Kylian Mbappé went down in the opposition box.

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While Madrid dominated the opening 15 minute, they almost fell behind as Andriy Lunin had to claw away Azzedine Ounahi's effort from the edge of the area before Claudio Echeverri fired wide.

Jude Bellingham was unable to get a clean connection to Brahim Díaz's cross and the ball flashed wide, while, at the other end, Arnau Martínez's thunderous effort only just whizzed past a post.

Gazzaniga produced a wonderful outstretched save to keep Girona level from Valverde's first-time shot, while Vinícius Júnior could not direct a header goalwards when Bellingham was better placed to nod in.

Bellingham spurned an opportunity inside the box straight after the break when he shot at Gazzaniga, who blotted his copy book as Valverde put Real ahead with a 25-yard thunderbolt in the 51st minute.

While Valverde's strike was powerfully struck, Gazzaniga seemed to be in two minds whether to catch or punch and the ball whistled through the former Southampton, Tottenham and Fulham shot-stopper.

Valverde then teed up Mbappé, who could not get the final touch, while Gazzaniga redeemed himself by saving well at his near post from Vinícius before Lemar dragged Girona level after 62 minutes.

The former Atlético Madrid midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the box then cut on to his left foot before unleashing a low drive that left a diving Lunin with next to no chance.

Madrid were listless thereafter, with Mbappé shooting straight at Gazzaniga before having a penalty appeal quashed late on, despite appearing to have been tripped in the area by Reis.

PA contributed to this report.