Real Madrid go host Girona for La Liga action on Friday night for inside Bernabéu stadium, and di crowd go dey hostile. Just as e look like Los Blancos dey find their rhythm, dem suffer shock defeat to Mallorca last weekend, den fall 2–1 to Bayern Munich for Champions League quarterfinals first leg.
Finishing with trophy dis season suddenly look out of reach. Barcelona dey sit atop La Liga standings with seven-point cushion to their bitter rivals, gap wey likely too great for Álvaro Arbeloa men to make up. Still, dem no go down without fight, even if winning their remaining league fixtures na just for pride.
On paper, Girona pose great opportunity for Real Madrid to get back to winning ways dis weekend. Di Catalans, wey dey 12th for table, dey inconsistent at best and dey deal with plenty injuries. Míchel men, though, go hope follow blueprint wey Mallorca lay out on Saturday to overcome di hardly infallible 15-time European champions.
Despite how poor Real Madrid play against Mallorca, e hard to imagine Spanish giants fall to inferior opponent for second weekend in a row, especially with how strong dem end against Bayern midweek. Pressure from home crowd alone suppose spur Los Blancos into action, but e no go be easy path to three points.
Girona dey come off impressive victory over Villarreal and don already best Barcelona and Athletic Club for 2026 as well. Still, for di end, stars wey dey Arbeloa squad go get di job done for Bernabéu—even if win no impressive as fans go like or expect.
Wetin once be injury-riddled Real Madrid squad now almost back to full strength. Only Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo remain out, while Franco Mastantuono dey suspended for di clash. Jude Bellingham and Éder Militão don back from their long stays for infirmary and expected get nod on Friday for first time since dem suffer their respective injuries.
Opportunity go be test run for when dem undoubtedly start against Bayern on Wednesday. Fran García na frontrunner to start on left flank after Álvaro Carreras last two dismal outings. Another change come for form of Eduardo Camavinga, wey Arbeloa confirm go start against Girona.
With suspension looming for second leg of Champions League quarterfinals, Aurélien Tchouaméni retain him place for midfield for Girona arrival, game wey him for normally watch from bench to dey fully fit for team trip to Germany.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Girona (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Militão, Huijsen, F. García; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Mbappé, Vinicius Jr.
Unlike Real Madrid, Girona dey deal with handful of missing faces. Portu and Juan Carlos both suffer ACL injuries at start of season and never return. Donny van de Beek don also dey out since September with long-term Achilles injury. Plus, Marc-André ter Stegen still dey nurse hamstring injury, leaving Paulo Gazzaniga to retain him place between posts.
Daley Blind face late fitness test after coming off pitch for team 1–0 win over Villarreal with apparent discomfort. Biggest absentee, though, na Vladyslav Vanat. Di striker, wey lead team for scoring, dey out for season after suffering hamstring injury for Monday clash.
Abel Ruiz get big opportunity to lead line for him place come Friday. Girona predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Martínez, Reis, Blind, Moreno; Beltrán, Witsel; Tsygankov, Martín, Ounahi; Ruiz.
After suffering back-to-back defeats, Real Madrid dey hunt for some redemption when dem face off with Girona on Friday evening. Di 15-time European champions see their La Liga dreams all but dashed last weekend when Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi secure last-gasp win for him side, leaving Álvaro Arbeloa men seven points adrift for title race.
Things only get worse for Real Madrid when Bayern Munich make trip to Bernabéu and hand Spanish giants 2–1 defeat for first leg of Champions League quarterfinals. Still get all to play for next week, though, wey fit influence Arbeloa selection for wetin now feel like rather fruitless league match.
Another defeat for Real Madrid dis weekend, even if La Liga title race na essentially over, na last thing team need before massive match against Vincent Kompany men. Therefore, Arbeloa need dey careful with who him rest and who him start on Friday.
Antonio Rüdiger na obvious candidate to get breather, leaving door open for Éder Militão to start on Friday. Fran García dey also in line to come into XI; left back likely for be Arbeloa choice to start against struggling Girona side anyway, but him surely frontrunner after Álvaro Carreras horrific showing against Bayern.
Jude Bellingham na another new face coming into lineup. England international expected make him first start since returning from hamstring injury to continue building up him match fitness ahead of second leg. Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo remain for infirmary, while Ferland Mendy dey eye some minutes off bench.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
