The top two in La Liga will lock horns for a monumental clash on Saturday evening, with division leaders Real Madrid welcoming second-placed Girona to Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have claimed 58 points from their 23 league matches this season to lead the way in Spain's top flight, but surprise package Girona are just two points behind Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead of this contest.
Match preview
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Real Madrid's league form this season has been hugely impressive, boasting a record of 18 wins, four draws and one defeat from 23 matches, which has seen them collect 58 points to sit at the summit.
Los Blancos are eight ahead of third-placed Barcelona and 10 clear of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, and the club would surely have considered those two to be their biggest challengers at the start of the season, but Girona are not going away, with the Catalan outfit having a quite remarkable campaign.
Girona's only league defeat of the campaign was against Real Madrid on September 30, while Ancelotti's side have not lost in Spain's top flight since a 3-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid on September 24.
Real Madrid came close to securing what would have been a huge three points against Atletico last weekend, with Brahim Diaz's first-half effort seeing them lead until the 93rd minute, when Marcos Llorente headed a leveller for Diego Simeone's side following some lacklustre defending.
Ancelotti's side have already won the Spanish Super Cup this season and are chasing success in the Champions League, preparing to head to RB Leipzig next week for the first leg of their last-16 clash.
Real Madrid cannot afford to switch their focus away from the league, though, and they will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories over Girona when the two teams go to battle on Saturday evening.
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Girona, as mentioned, lost 3-0 in the reverse match earlier this season, but they beat Real Madrid 4-2 at home last term and were on a three-game unbeaten run against them before the clash last September.
Many expected Girona's form to have tailed off by now, but the White and Reds have shown that they are the real deal, going stride-for-stride with Real Madrid for much of the campaign.
Michel's side have drawn two of their last four league games, though, including a 0-0 with Real Sociedad last time out, and they have two huge fixtures to come, following this match with a trip to Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid's mind will be elsewhere now that the Champions League is starting again, and Girona's recent elimination from the Copa del Rey will allow them to put everything into the league.
Even if the Catalan outfit fall short in terms of the La Liga title, they are in a brilliant position to claim Champions League football for next season, which would be a historic achievement for a club in just their fourth season at this level.
Girona, who are the top scorers in La Liga this season with 52, finished 10th last term, which was their joint-best final position, but they will comfortably beat that this season.
Team News
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Real Madrid have been sweating over the fitness of Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius Junior, with the former missing out against Atletico due to a thigh problem, while the latter had to withdraw from the starting XI last time out due to pain in his neck.
Vinicius trained on Friday alongside his teammates, though, and he is now set to start, while Rudiger is said to also be winning his battle to be available.
Los Blancos will also be boosted by the return of Aurelien Tchouameni following a suspension, and the France international could play at centre-back, as Nacho has been ruled out due to a muscular issue.
David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, remain unavailable for selection due to ACL injuries. Eduardo Camavinga is fit, though, despite suffering a knock to his knee last time out.
Girona have seen appeals over suspensions for head coach Michel, centre-back Daley Blind and central midfielder Yangel Herrera dismissed, so the former will be absent from the touchline, while two key players will be missing due to bookings in the clash with Real Sociedad last time out.
Juan Carlos, David Lopez, Joel Roca and Toni Villa are all injured, but Artem Dovbyk, who has 14 goals and six assists in 21 La Liga appearances this season, is set to overcome an injury in time for the clash.
Arnau Martinez is likely to be the player to benefit from Blind's absence, while Pablo Torre could also be introduced into midfield, with Savio and Viktor Tsyhankov continuing in the wide positions for the visitors.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Couto, E Garcia, A Martinez, Gutierrez; Torre, A Garcia, Martin; Tsyhankov, Dovbyk, Savio
We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Girona
This is shaping up to be a fascinating match at Bernabeu, with the two best teams in La Liga this season locking horns. Girona would certainly accept a point if it were offered ahead of kickoff, and Real Madrid might be willing to do the same, but we just have a feeling that the capital outfit's superior quality will allow them to record a narrow victory in Saturday's clash in the capital.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
