Real Madrid lost their top position in the La Liga standings as Girona drew their match 0-0 against bottom-of-the-table Almeria on Sunday.
The winless hosts outperformed the surprise contenders, who are now a point ahead of Real Madrid, but couldn't find a way to secure their first victory of the season.
Girona playmaker Aleix Garcia was sent off with 10 minutes to go for pulling down Gonzalo Melero as he advanced towards the goal.
Madrid is set to face Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia later on Sunday, with their match against Getafe postponed until February 1.
"We knew it would not be easy at the start," Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga told Movistar.
"Playing the last minutes with one less player, I think it was a positive point."
Almeria's manager remarked that his team's defensive strength had significantly improved since he assumed control in October, recalling his inaugural match where they suffered a resounding 5-2 defeat at the hands of Girona.
This assertion was validated as the previously prolific Catalans found themselves well-contained, resulting in Almeria securing their third goalless draw in the last six league games.
Almeria capitalised on the limited opportunities, with Girona's goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga impressively thwarting Sergio Arribas before the halftime whistle.
The former Real Madrid winger had another opportunity early in the second half but narrowly missed the target. Gazzaniga continued to deny attempts from Leo Baptistao and Adri Embarba.
Despite being named the player of the match, Arribas, with his electrifying performance, was inefficient in front of goal.
Girona's coach, Michel Sanchez, substituted their leading goal-scorer Artem Dovbyk, who had minimal impact, bringing in Uruguayan veteran Cristhian Stuani instead.
Adding to Girona's woes, Garcia was shown a red card with 10 minutes remaining for grabbing Melero's shirt and impeding his progress towards goal. The midfielder, a crucial part of Michel's strategy, had played every minute of the season until this point.
In a bid to break the deadlock, Almeria introduced striker Luis Suarez, who had been sidelined due to injury since October.
Despite their efforts, they couldn't find a breakthrough, leaving them 10 points adrift of safety and facing a formidable challenge against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in their next fixture.
