Girona vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Girona have started to put results together after such a difficult start to the campaign as they push towards the top seven and the European spots ahead of facing a faltering Real Madrid side in Catalonia this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 7th December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Girona vs Real Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Girona Preview: Magic of Michel
Throughout the last couple of seasons, Girona have been one of the most impressive and interesting stories in Spanish football. They, for a second successive summer, sold a few key players and manager Michel said it would be very difficult to emulate their third place finish from last season but they are finding a way to improve as the season goes on.
Michel won La Liga’s Manager of the Month award for November with his Catalans finding a way back into the top-half with their still entertaining style of football. They come into this one on the back of a thrilling 2-2 draw with Villarreal at El Madrigal last weekend in which they snatched a point deep into second-half stoppage-time.
Real Madrid Preview: Worried Los Blancos
There are problems at Real Madrid. Los Blancos come into this one on the back of giving up ground on Barcelona in the title race with a 2-1 loss at San Mames against Athletic Club in midweek. Madrid went behind to an Alex Berenguer opener before Jude Bellingham scored his fourth in as many games to level things up but Gorka Guruzeta scored a late winner for Athletic.
The game involved Kylian Mbappe, now coming under intense pressure and scrutiny, having another penalty saved a week on from his effort from 12 yards was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti needs to work things out and could do with doing so quite quickly.
Girona Team News: Key doubts
As well as defender Arnau Martinez being unavailable due to suspension for this weekend, both Gabriel Misehouy and Jastin Garcia are also sidelined through injury for this one.
They are dealing with key doubts in midfield, too, as both Yangel Herrera and Viktor Tsygankov are not fully fit alongside former Watford forward Yaser Asprilla.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Paulo Gazzaniga; Alejandro Frances, David Lopez, Krejci, Miguel Gutierrez; Ivan Martin, Oriol Romeu; Bryan Gil, Van de Beek, Danjuma; Miovski
Unavailable: Arnau Martinez (Suspended), Misehouy (Injured), Jastin Garcia (Injured)
Questionable: Yangel Herrera (Injured), Yaser Asprilla (Injured), Tsygankov (Injured)
Real Madrid Team News: Still no Vini
Key man Vinicius Junior was ruled out for a few weeks a couple of weeks ago and he remains sidelined alongside some key men in both defence and in midfield.
Club captain Dani Carvajal is out with an ACL injury alongside Eder Militao with David Alaba struggling to return. Eduardo Camavinga is also still unavailable, too.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Raul Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni; Fede Valverde, Dani Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe
Unavailable: Alaba (Injured), Militao (Injured), Dani Carvajal (Injured), Camavinga (Injured), Vinicius Junior (Injured)
Questionable:
Girona vs Real Madrid Prediction
Girona succumbed to an upset in the Copa del Rey in midweek as they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Logrones. Things aren’t perfect in Catalonia but they do have the excellent management of Michel to fall back on and a reaction will be expected this weekend against a Real Madrid side that are genuinely fragile and vulnerable at the moment. Madrid lack control and goals are to be expected, regardless of who or if there is a winner.
Girona vs Real Madrid Tip: Over 2.5 goals
