Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari insisted his team are still in the hunt for the La Liga title despite losing at home to Girona.
After leaders Barcelona won on Saturday and Atletico moved into second with victory, Real had the chance on Sunday to move back to second with a win of their own.
We need to get good results as soon as possible, but we're still in three competitions.
Santiago Solari
However, despite Casemiro giving the home side a first half lead Girona gave their relegation concerns a huge boost with two goals in 10 second half minutes.
They equalised from the penalty spot after a Sergio Ramos handball, converted by Cristhian Stuani and then, after Portu had hit the crossbar, he won the game with a diving header on 75 minutes.
Real's woes were increased in injury time with Ramos being sent off for two yellow cards.
Their seventh defeat of the league season means they now trail Barcelona by nine points in La Liga, a gap that Solari insists can still be breached.
He said after the game when asked if they can still win the title: "Always. We are always in it. We need to get good results as soon as possible, but we're still in three competitions.”
On the game he added: "We tried to increase our energy levels with our changes but we did not achieve it - we have a big squad and a lot of good players.
"We did not take our chances when we had them and it was really difficult for us in the first 25 minutes."
Real are still in contention in two other competitions as Solari indicated. They are in the Copa del Rey semi-finals where they are tied with Barcelona 1-1 after the first leg.
They are also in the Champions League and, having won the trophy the last three years, have a 2-1 lead over Ajax after the first leg of their round of 16 tie in this season's competition.
They are 8/15 to win the second leg with Ajax 17/4 and the draw 7/2.
Real Madrid are 9/1 to win the Champions League while they are 5/4 to win the Copa del Rey.
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Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari insisted his team are still in the hunt for the La Liga title despite losing at home to Girona.
After leaders Barcelona won on Saturday and Atletico moved into second with victory, Real had the chance on Sunday to move back to second with a win of their own.
We need to get good results as soon as possible, but we're still in three competitions.
Santiago Solari
However, despite Casemiro giving the home side a first half lead Girona gave their relegation concerns a huge boost with two goals in 10 second half minutes.
They equalised from the penalty spot after a Sergio Ramos handball, converted by Cristhian Stuani and then, after Portu had hit the crossbar, he won the game with a diving header on 75 minutes.
Real's woes were increased in injury time with Ramos being sent off for two yellow cards.
Their seventh defeat of the league season means they now trail Barcelona by nine points in La Liga, a gap that Solari insists can still be breached.
He said after the game when asked if they can still win the title: "Always. We are always in it. We need to get good results as soon as possible, but we're still in three competitions.”
On the game he added: "We tried to increase our energy levels with our changes but we did not achieve it - we have a big squad and a lot of good players.
"We did not take our chances when we had them and it was really difficult for us in the first 25 minutes."
Real are still in contention in two other competitions as Solari indicated. They are in the Copa del Rey semi-finals where they are tied with Barcelona 1-1 after the first leg.
They are also in the Champions League and, having won the trophy the last three years, have a 2-1 lead over Ajax after the first leg of their round of 16 tie in this season's competition.
They are 8/15 to win the second leg with Ajax 17/4 and the draw 7/2.
Real Madrid are 9/1 to win the Champions League while they are 5/4 to win the Copa del Rey.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com