Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Athletic Bilbao when they continue their La Liga campaign with a contest against Girona at Estadi Montilivi on Saturday night.
Los Blancos lost 2-1 to Athletic on Wednesday evening, with the result leaving them second in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Barcelona but with a game in hand, while Girona occupy eighth position.
Match preview
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Girona had a spectacular 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in La Liga, which saw them secure qualification for the league phase of the 2024-25 Champions League, and it represented their best-ever season in Spain's top flight.
There has undoubtedly been a drop off this term, but Michel's side have found some form of late, picking up 10 points from their last four La Liga matches courtesy of three wins and a draw, which has moved them into eighth spot in the division.
The White and Reds are only seven points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao with a game in hand, but they are winless in their last three games in all competitions, losing twice in the process.
Girona suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sturm Graz in the Champions League at the end of November, which has left them down in 30th spot in the overall table, three points behind 24th-placed Real Madrid, who occupy the final playoff spot.
Michel's side were shocked in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, meanwhile, losing on penalties to fourth-tier outfit UD Logrones after a goalless draw, so their journey in this season's cup competition is already over.
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Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Athletic on Wednesday, with Gorka Guruzeta netting the winner in the 80th minute of the contest; Kylian Mbappe missed another penalty for Carlo Ancelotti's side, and the Frenchman took to social media after the match to apologise for his role in his team's second league defeat of the campaign.
Los Blancos are second in the table, boasting 33 points from their 15 matches, which has left them four points behind leaders Barcelona, who have played a game more, so they are still very much in the title picture at this stage.
Real Madrid have lost four of their last seven matches in all competitions, and they have two huge away games to come, facing Girona on Saturday before heading to Atalanta BC in the Champions League next week; Ancelotti's side will be under major pressure to beat the Italian outfit due to their issues in the competition this term.
The Madrid giants are only just clinging onto a playoff spot in the Champions League table, and it would be one of the biggest shocks of all time if they were not present in the next round of the competition.
Real Madrid have won six, drawn one and lost three of their 10 matches against Girona in all competitions, including a 3-0 success in the corresponding contest during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
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Girona will be without the services of three players for this weekend's contest, with Viktor Tsygankov, Yaser Asprilla and Yangel Herrera unavailable, but Gabriel Misehouy made his return off the bench in the Copa del Rey last time out.
Head coach Michel will make a number of changes to the side that started in the Copa del Rey, with Ivan Martin, Arnau Martinez, Donny van de Beek and Bojan Miovski set to return to the XI for the clash with Real Madrid.
Bryan Gil, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, is set to feature in a wide position on Saturday night, while there is also expected to be a spot in the side for Arnaut Danjuma, who is yet to get off the mark for Michel's side.
As for Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba will once again miss out, while Rodrygo has withdrawn from the squad due to a muscular issue.
Head coach Ancelotti could make three changes to the side that started against Athletic, with Brahim Diaz and Ferland Mendy potentially coming in for Dani Ceballos and Fran Garcia, while Arda Guler could replace Rodrygo.
Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are once again expected to be in the XI, while there will be another start in the middle of the defence for Raul Asencio, who has been the main beneficiary from Militao's season-ending knee injury.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A Martinez, D Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu; Gil, Van de Beek, Danjuma; Miovski
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappe, Brahim
We say: Girona 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid scored seven times and conceded zero in their two La Liga games against Girona last term; this is set to be a real challenge for Ancelotti's side, and it would not be a surprise to see the points shared, but we are backing the Spanish champions to navigate their way to all three points on Saturday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
