‘Ramos being Ramos’: Real skipper picks up 25th career red card in shock defeat against Girona
Sergio Ramos picked up a late red card as his team slumped to a shock 2-1 La Liga defeat to Girona at the Bernabeu.
Ramos was dismissed by referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernández for a second bookable offence as Real desperately pushed for an equalizer in the 90th minute.
The Real skipper, 32, was adjudged to have connected with a Girona defender while attempting an overhead kick, despite replays showing that there was minimal contact.
Ramos had earlier been booked for handling the ball as he gave away a 65th-minute penalty which allowed Cristhian Stuani to level the score for Girona, after Casemiro had given the home team a first-half lead.
Portu gave the visitors the lead 10 minutes later in front of a shocked Bernabeu, and despite a late surge which saw Real come close from a header by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was up for an injury-time corner, Santiago Solari’s side couldn’t find a way through.
The result means Real sit third in the league, two points behing city rivals Atletico and nine behind Barcelona, who beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday.
Real skipper Ramos was making his 601st appearance for the club – moving him to joint fifth on the all-time list – but marked the occasion with an unwanted card.
His late red was the 25th of his career, and meant he would not repeat his remarkable personal achievement of 2018 during which he went a whole year without being sent off.
Sergio Ramos is the first player in the history of La Liga to receive 20 red cards.His 25th across all competitions for Real Madrid. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/dnPG6oq02O
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 17, 2019
Name a more iconic duo than Sergio Ramos and a red card.We'll wait... pic.twitter.com/AM7tde4wiD
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) February 17, 2019
Who had Sergio Ramos in red card bingo? #RealMadridGironapic.twitter.com/rd0q8ZZ2b5
— Goal (@goal) February 17, 2019
Sergio Ramos’ first red card since December 2017, believe it or not.
— Ryan. (@Rygista) February 17, 2019
Lmao! Ramos just being Ramos.
— NOVACANE (@abidonbaba007) February 17, 2019
According to Spanish outlet AS, Ramos is now out on his own as the player to receive the most red cards in the history of Europe's top leagues, overtaking Frenchman Cyril Rool, who was given his marching orders 19 times during his playing days in Ligue 1.
Sunday's result was a setback for Real boss Solari, after his team looked to have picked up some kind of momentum in recent weeks, beating Atletico in the Madrid derby last weekend and defeating Ajax in their Champions League last 16 first leg in Amsterdam during the week.
That game was also marked by Ramos controversy, over allegations he deliberately picked up a booking so that he would miss the second leg before the slate was wiped clean.
Also on rt.com UEFA open investigation after Sergio Ramos admits to deliberately picking up UCL yellow cardRamos' red card on Saturday reportedly means he will miss the trip to Levante, but not the Copa Del Rey Clasico against Barca on February 27.
Girona's shock win moves them up to 15th in the La Liga table, four points above the relegation zone.
