The La Liga title race is reaching a boiling point as Real Madrid prepares to host Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu tomorrow. With only eight games remaining in the season, the stakes could not be higher for the Kings of Europe. Real Madrid is currently chasing a relentless Barcelona side, and any slip-up now could effectively hand the trophy to their rivals.
Real Madrid enters Matchday 31 sitting in second place. Their recent form has been a bit of a rollercoaster, punctuated by a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Mallorca that left fans concerned. Managing the squad’s fatigue is the biggest challenge for head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, as the team is also deep in a Champions League quarterfinal battle against Bayern Munich.
Stats & Facts
- Kylian Mbappé currently leads the La Liga scoring charts with 23 goals in 25 appearances this season.
- Real Madrid has gone 18 consecutive home matches without a draw.
- The previous encounter this season on November 30, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw at Girona’s Estadi Montilivi.
- Real Madrid boasts one of the league’s best defenses, conceding only 28 goals in 30 matches.
- In contrast, Girona has struggled at the back, conceding 44 goals in the league so far this season.
Team News
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa is dealing with some significant absences, as Rodrygo and Thibaut Courtois remain sidelined with knee and thigh injuries, respectively, while the promising Franco Mastantuono is out due to suspension. However, the squad receives a boost with the return of Ferland Mendy from a hamstring issue and the confirmed start of Jude Bellingham.
As for Girona, they will be without the services of Portu, Donny van de Beek, and Ricard Artero, while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen also remains unavailable. Their situation grew more complicated following their recent match against Villarreal, which saw both Vladyslav Vanat and Daley Blind forced off with muscle problems; Vanat is especially unlikely to recover in time for the trip to Madrid.
Possible Lineup for Real Madrid:
Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Huijsen, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
Possible Lineup for Girona:
Gazzaniga; Martinez, Reis, Blind, Moreno; Beltran, Witsel; Tsygankov, Martin, Ounahi; Ruiz
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Girona
Real Madrid’s home record is formidable, and the Bernabéu crowd will be demanding a dominant performance to wash away the bitterness of the two consecutive defeats. Girona’s defensive record on the road has been shaky, conceding 44 goals so far this season. If Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior find their rhythm early, it could be a long night for the Catalan visitors.
Betfair Odds
Real Madrid: 1.32
Draw: 6.60
Girona: 9.67
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