Girona – Real Madrid : Preview & Prediction
After four consecutive matches with points (G2, E2), Girona lost 1-0 to Valladolid at Zorrilla on Saturday, dropping to eleventh place in LaLiga Santander (LL). The dream of qualifying for European competition for the first time in their history seems a pipe dream, and a more realistic goal for the Girona side is to improve on their highest position in a LL campaign (10th, 2017-18). In the first of their remaining eight fixtures, Girona take on Real Madrid, against whom they have posted positive results in two of the last three meetings between the two (G1, E1, P1).
Girona have scored in Madrid’s last two official visits to Montilivi, but both ended in a win for Real Madrid. However, the two points scored by Míchel’s side at the Bernabéu (1-1) and the Camp Nou (0-0) this season should be highlighted, undoubtedly a very meritorious achievement. In addition to these draws, the Red-and-Whites have picked up 12 points in their last five matches at home (G4, P1), although the only defeat in that series came against another Madrid giant (GIR 0-1 Atlético de Madrid).
For their part, Real Madrid temporarily reduced their lead over Barcelona in the title race to eight points with a 2-0 win over Celta on Saturday – their fourth consecutive win by that scoreline – but Los Azulgranas did not falter on Sunday and remain 11 points clear at the top. The reliability of Carlo Ancelotti’s side after scoring the first goal is very high in the current league campaign: Los Blancos have lost only two of the 21 LL matches in which they have broken the 0-0 scoreline (G17, E2, P2).
After starting the championship with six consecutive away wins, the poor performance away from home since November has almost definitively distanced Real Madrid from the top (G4, E1, P4). If recent seasons are anything to go by, Los Blancos should improve their away results down the stretch; counting only their final four outings of an LL campaign, Madrid have lost just one of their last 12 games away from the Bernabeu (G8, E3, P1).
Players to watch: Taty Castellanos has opened the scoring before halftime in two of Girona’s last four league games at Montilivi. For the visitors, Marco Asensio has a finely-tuned eye for goal, with goals – two of them between the 70th and 80th minute – in three of Real Madrid’s last four games in LL.
Standout stat: Girona’s home games register the second-highest goals-against average (3.07 p. p.) in LL 2022-23.
Girona – Real Madrid : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
