Daily Times

MADRID: Karim Benzema missed a penalty for Real Madrid as they finally blinked in the La Liga title race, dropping their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw with Osasuna on Sunday. Elsewhere Real Sociedad won 5-3 at Girona and high-flying Real Betis fell to a 1-0 defeat at Celta Vigo. After Barcelona beat Real Mallorca on Saturday, Madrid knew they had to win to stay top but were frustrated by Jagoba Arrasate’s well-organised side at the Santiago Bernabeu. Benzema, on his return to the side after injury, won a spot-kick but then fired it against the crossbar, and also had a goal disallowed for offside as Madrid tried to force a way through.

Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock just before half-time with a cross that snuck all the way into the far corner, but Kike Garcia’s well-taken header early in the second period earned Osasuna a point. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told the club’s fans at an assembly on Sunday morning that a European Super League project was essential, but Osasuna showed domestic football can still offer a significant challenge.

Benzema made his first appearance since September 6, while Andriy Lunin and Dani Ceballos started in place of injured duo Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric. Madrid probed promisingly down the flanks, while at the other end Abde Ezzalzouli, on loan at Osasuna from Barcelona, crashed a shot into the side netting on a bright display. Madrid opened the scoring in fortuitous fashion, with Vinicius whipping in a low cross which caught out goalkeeper Sergio Herrera and crept in at the far post. Osasuna complained that Benzema and Antonio Rudiger were offside and interfering with play, but their protests were dismissed. The visitors were level five minutes into the second half, when Kike Garcia brilliantly looped a backwards header over Lunin. The goal meant Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the first seven league games.

No way through: Turning up the heat, Benzema drew a stunning save from Herrera, although he was offside, then neatly slipped through Rodrygo Goes, who fired over. The French striker won a penalty when he was shoved over by David Garcia, who was sent off, but hit the crossbar with his effort. Moments later Benzema had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed for offside. The draw means Barcelona lead Madrid on goal difference after seven games, with both teams on 19 points and unbeaten. It is the first time the Catalans lead the league at the end of a fixture round since June 2020.

Earlier Real Sociedad, seventh, came out on top after an eight-goal thriller at Montilivi. Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth hit a first-half brace for the visitors either side of goals for Girona’s Rodrigo Riquelme and Arnau Martinez. Valentin Castellanos put Girona ahead but Brais Mendez and Martin Zubimendi struck in the space of six minutes to restore the Basque side’s lead. Takefusa Kubo made the game safe for La Real late on. Real Betis fell to a narrow defeat at Celta Vigo, playing most of the game with 10 men after Luiz Felipe’s 20th-minute red card. Gabriel Veiga slammed home in the opening stages from distance for the hosts at Balaidos and they moved 10th while Betis remained fourth. Espanyol and Valencia shared a thrilling 2-2 draw which saw both sides reduced to 10 men after red cards for Martin Braithwaite and Marcos Andre respectively.