La Liga leaders Real Madrid will look to return to winning ways in La Liga when they hit the road to square up against Girona at Estadi Montilivi.
Girona will be looking for their third win of the 2025/26 league campaign when they host La Liga table-toppers Real Madrid, who have been a touch inconsistent of late.
The home team are 18th on the table with 11 points in their 13 outings, with two wins, five draws, and six defeats. While they have struggled throughout the season, Girona secured a 1-0 win over Alaves prior to the break, and are heading into this fixture on the back of a 1-1 draw over Real Betis.
Given their recent form, the home team will be confident about putting up a fight against Real Madrid. However, the gulf in quality between the two teams might reflect on the score sheet.
Meanwhile, the visitors are top of the table in La Liga with 32 points in their 13 outings. The Merengues have dropped points in their last two league outings, and it has helped Barcelona come within touching distance of them. Another disappointing result could see them lose the top spot.
Real Madrid are heading into this fixture on the back of an entertaining 4-3 win over Olympiacos. While it was not their best performance, Los Blancos did get the job done, and it will boost their confidence ahead of this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Girona
The home team are expected to be without the services of quite a few first-team stars. Cristian Portu, David Lopez, Donny van de Beek, Juan Carlos, Alejandro Frances, Daley Blind, Ricard Artero, Thomas Lemar, and Vladyslav Krapyvtsov are all expected to be unavailable.
Girona will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Paulo Gazzaniga will take charge in goal. Hugo Rincon and Alex Moreno should be the full-backs, while Vitor Reis will pair up with Arnau Martinez in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Ivan Martin will partner with Axel Witsel in the centre of the park. The Girona midfield duo will look to shield the backline and ensure the Real Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Viktor Tsygankov and Bryan Gil will feature on the flanks, while Azzedine Ounahi will take up the number ten role. Finally, Vladyslav Vanat will be lead the line for Girona against Real Madrid at Estadi Montilivi this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Rincon, Martinez, Reis, Moreno; Martin, Witsel; Tsygankov, Ounahi, Gil; Vanat
Real Madrid
The visitors are without the services of Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal. Meanwhile, Franco Mastantuono, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois, and Dean Huijsen are all doubts for this outing.
Courtois, Rudiger, and Mastantuono have resumed training, so they could end up playing a part in this fixture. The Spanish giants will line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, where Thibaut Courtois could return to the starting XI.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras should be the full-backs, while Raul Asencio could pair up with Aurelien Tchouameni at the heart of the defence. Arda Guler will start alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde in the middle of the park.
The trio will look to control the tempo of this fixture. Jude Bellingham will take up the number ten role, while Vinicius Junior will partner Kylian Mbappe in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Tchouameni, Carreras; Guler, Camavinga, Valverde; Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have failed to win their last two league outings.
- Michel’s team have the worst defensive record in La Liga, having conceded 25 goals.
- Los Blancos have only won one out of their last four outings across competitions.
- Girona are in their fourth straight campaign in La Liga, which is their best run in the top flight.
- The Catalan team have faced Los Blancos on 12 occasions, and have suffered eight defeats.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham has finally hit top gear for the team in white since his return from injury. The English international has contributed towards five goals in his last four La Liga outings. He had bagged a goal and an assist in their last league outing against Elche.
While the focus tends to be on Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham is an equally important member of this star-studded Real Madrid team. Given the Englishman’s recent form, he could certainly have a massive say on the end result of this fixture.
Prediction
Girona 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid arrive in Catalonia knowing they can ill-afford another slip-up after dropping points in their last two league outings. Xabi Alonso’s men have looked slightly inconsistent domestically, but their dramatic 4-3 win over Olympiacos should give them a timely boost.
With Jude Bellingham back in top form and the Kylian Mbappe-Vinicius Junior partnership growing sharper with every game, Los Blancos have the firepower to trouble a Girona side that has struggled defensively all season.
Girona, however, will not make things easy despite their league position. Michel’s charges have shown improvement in recent weeks, taking four points from their last two outings and displaying more defensive resilience than earlier in the season.
But with a long list of key absentees and the worst defensive record in La Liga, the hosts may struggle to contain Real Madrid’s attacking talent over the course of 90 minutes. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Alonso and his charges.