How exciting will the Catalans make it?

The big showdown in La Liga will take place on Saturday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu when Real Madrid host Girona FC, currently their closest rivals in the battle for the championship. The Catalans have just two points fewer than the Blancos. If Real Madrid’s bet on an away win for the Blanquivermells against Girona pans out, the surprise team of the season would return to first place in the table for the first time since matchday 17.

This match is by no means as clear-cut as the odds offered by the bookmakers would have us believe. After all, the Gironistes have not lost any of their last two La Liga away games at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (one win, one draw). In any case, the Real Madrid vs Girona prediction must take into account that the Catalans are unbeaten in eleven La Liga away games so far in the 2023/24 season (eight wins, three draws).

The situation is exacerbated by the tight personnel situation at Real Madrid. The Merengues are not only without keeper Courtois, but also three central defenders in Militao, Alaba and Rüdiger. In addition to Nacho, right-back Carvajal has recently moved into central defense. As a result, the attacking Gironistes should also have a chance of at least scoring at the Santiago Bernabéu

Real Madrid – statistics & current form

In January, Real Madrid lost to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, meaning that defending the title in this competition is no longer possible. In the other competitions, however, things are going very well for the Merengues, who also won the Supercopa de Espana in January with a brilliant 4:1 victory in the Clásico against FC Barcelona.

In the Champions League, the Blancos will play host to RB Leipzig in the first leg of the round of 16 on Tuesday. Before that, the Galacticos could make a big statement in La Liga, where the capital side lead the table with 58 points from 23 games

Real Madrid traditionally leave little to be desired at the Bernabéu

Two points behind them are Girona FC, against whom the Whites must not lose at home under any circumstances. A draw would keep the surprise team at bay. A home win would even extend their lead to five points

The odds for Real Madrid v Girona are very much in favor of the Blancos, who go into the game with a very strong home record. The Whites remain unbeaten in eleven La Liga home games in the 2023/24 season (nine wins, two draws) and have conceded just seven goals at home

Who will be defending alongside Nacho at Real Madrid this time?

The Blancos were held to a 1-1 draw in the city derby against Atletico Madrid. However, it was their first loss after eight consecutive wins in La Liga. However, it remains to be seen whether the unbeaten run of 19 league games can be extended any further.

After all, Carlo Ancelotti once again has to solve an explosive personnel puzzle this week. Three central defenders – Eder Militao, David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger – are out injured. The only regular central defender, Nacho Fernández, will therefore once again have an out-of-position partner. It is quite possible that Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is eligible to play again after serving his yellow card suspension, will take over this role.

Predicted Real Madrid line-up:

Girona – Statistics & current form

Girona Futbol Club is the absolute surprise team of the 2023/24 season. The club from Catalonia has never finished a season in La Liga in a single-digit position. Now, with 15 matchdays to go before the end of the season, there is hardly any doubt that the crass underdogs will even make it into the Champions League next season

Provided, of course, that the club, which has close ties with Manchester City, can clean up its structures so that the Gironistes can exercise their right to compete in the top flight. It is not entirely out of the question that the Blanquivermells could even compete as Spanish champions in the most important European competition for club teams

Girona know how to win in Madrid

If Real Madrid win away against Girona, the Gironistes would go top of the table for the first time since matchday 17. Even in the more likely event of a defeat, however, the club would fall softly. They are already six points clear of third place.

However, the Blanquivermells have proven on several occasions in the past that they can score at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The Catalans have not lost either of their last two La Liga games at the Blancos (one win, one draw).

Girona are strong away from home and dangerous

There are two important factors behind Míchel’s side’s persistence at the top of the table. Firstly, Girona FC are extremely strong away from home and have not lost at all in eleven league games in the 2023/24 season (eight wins, three draws).

And secondly, the Catalans are the goal factory par excellence in La Liga. Their 52 goals from 23 league games are the highest in the league, with club legend Cristhian Stuani (seven goals) and Ukrainian Artem Dovbyk (14 goals) standing out in particular. However, the fact that Daley Blind and Yangel Herrera, two important cornerstones of the defense, will now have to serve a yellow card suspension in the top match in Madrid of all places makes the task more difficult.

Predicted Girona line-up:

Real Madrid – Girona head-to-head comparison / H2H result

Head to head: 5 – 1 – 3

The two clubs have only faced each other nine times so far and Real Madrid lead the direct comparison with five wins. However, two of the last four encounters have gone to Girona FC, who have also scored in two consecutive games at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (one win, one draw). However, the first leg was a clear-cut affair and went 3-0 to the Blancos.

Real Madrid – Girona betting tip

Surprisingly, the odds of all bookmakers for Real Madrid against Girona are clearly in favor of the home side, which in our opinion is an extremely bold assessment. Not only have the Blancos remained winless in their last two La Liga home games against the Gironistes (one draw, one defeat), but the Catalans will now visit the Santiago Bernabéu as a team that is also so high up in the table because it has remained unbeaten in eleven La Liga away games in the 2023/24 season (eight wins, three draws).

So it is by no means unlikely that Real Madrid’s prediction of a point win for the visitors against Girona will work out. It is very consistent to apply a handicap of +2 to the Catalans. This not only covers every point win, but also every home win for the Blancos with a difference of just one goal