Real Madrid’s draw means Barcelona can extend their lead to nine points at the top of La Liga if they beat Espanyol on Saturday.
Published on 10 April 2026
Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw against mid-table Aragon in La Liga, extending the hosts’ winning streak to three games in all competitions and giving Barcelona the chance to extend their advantage at the top.
Federico Valverde put Real ahead six minutes after halftime on Friday, but Bayern equalized through Thomas Lemar in the 62nd minute.
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Barca have 76 points, six points ahead of second-place Real, who have now played one game more. The Catalan side visit Espanyol on Saturday and can go nine clear of the top spots with seven matches remaining.
Real started the night under pressure and left seven points behind Barca after losing at Mallorca last weekend.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa selected a full-strength squad despite the threat of the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, in which his side will have to recover from a 2-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
With Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior leading the line, Real dominated possession, with Jude Bellingham in midfield. Yet for all their territorial dominance, clear chances proved rare in a first half lacking pace and inspiration.
Verona were content to sit deep and push forward whenever possible. The closest they came before the break was when Azzedine Onahi fired a fierce effort from inside the box, only for goalkeeper Andrey Lunin to make a sharp reflex save.
After intermission the competition finally came alive.
Valverde broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a low strike from the edge of the area that should have posed little threat, but Verona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga let the ball go through his arms as he fell trying to bury it.
However Real’s relief was short-lived.
In the 62nd minute, Lemar attacked from the right and fired a superb shot from the edge of the box which went just inside the right post beyond Lunin’s disappointing dive and leveled the score.
Real pushed for the winner but urgency turned to anxiety. Attacks were rushed, passes were rushed and there was a lack of composure.
Verona held their shape with discipline to the dismay of the crowd, who booed the players with the realization that their team’s LaLiga hopes were collapsing before their eyes.
The final whistle was greeted with uneasiness around the Bernabeu, as Real’s faltering form tilts the title race ever more strongly towards their old rivals Barca.
