In terms of the head‑to‑head, Madrid have won eight of the 13 meetings between the sides

After back‑to‑back defeats, Real Madrid return to La Liga action at the Bernabéu, where they’ll look to get back on track against Girona.

Real Madrid’s push for the La Liga title took a serious blow last weekend. A 2-1 loss to struggling Mallorca, followed by Barcelona’s late win over Atlético Madrid, has left them seven points adrift at the top. To have any chance of catching their rivals, Los Blancos will likely need to win all eight of their remaining league fixtures.

At the same time, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side face pressure in Europe after a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Girona comes next in the league before Madrid head to Germany for the return leg, where they’ll need something special to stay in the competition.

At the Bernabéu, Madrid have been strong, winning 13 of their 15 league games this season, but Girona won’t be easy opponents. The Catalan side have collected 15 points from 15 away matches and arrive with confidence after beating Villarreal 1-0. Historically, Madrid have had the upper hand, winning four of the last five meetings, including a 2-0 victory in this fixture last season. Even so, Girona have caused problems before, famously winning at the Bernabéu in 2019 and taking their first ever victory over Madrid back in 2017.

Girona’s recent form has been steady, with six points from their last three games thanks to wins over Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao. Sitting 12th in the table, they’re comfortably clear of the relegation zone and within reach of the top half, though a mid‑table finish looks most likely. With Madrid juggling league and European ambitions, Girona will sense an opportunity to catch them slightly distracted in this matchup.

Real Madrid will be missing a few key names – Rodrygo is out with a knee problem, Thibaut Courtois is sidelined by a thigh injury, and Franco Mastantuono is suspended. Ferland Mendy is also a concern, with a hamstring issue that will require a late fitness check.

Girona have their own absentees – Portu, Donny van de Beek, Juan Carlos, Marc‑André ter Stegen, and Ricard Artero are all unavailable through injury. Vladyslav Vanat and Daley Blind both came off against Villarreal last time out, and Vanat looks the more likely to miss this one.

In terms of the head‑to‑head, Madrid have won eight of the 13 meetings between the sides, though the reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 1-1 draw.