Real Madrid will aim to capitalize on their emphatic Champions League victory over Manchester City as they host Girona in La Liga on Sunday. Kylian Mbappé’s stunning hat-trick secured a 3-1 win in the second leg of the UCL play-offs, allowing Los Blancos to advance to the round of 16 with a 6-3 aggregate score.
Despite this European success, Carlo Ancelotti’s side has faced domestic challenges, failing to secure a win in their last three La Liga matches. This dip in form has seen them slip to third place, three points behind Barcelona who have played a game more. Arch-rivals Atletico Madrid also leapfrogged Los Blancos after their latest win over Valencia.
Ancelotti emphasized the importance of returning to winning ways, stating that his team cannot afford to drop more points if they wish to remain in the title race.
Girona, in contrast, has struggled this season, currently sitting 11th in the league standings. They have suffered defeats in their last two La Liga outings and will be eager to reverse their fortunes. Los Blancos hammered Girona 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season and will try to inflict a similar result this Sunday.
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid have no new injury concerns but Jude Bellingham will miss the tie through suspension. The English international became the main topic of discussion after he was shown a red card for a dissent with the referee during the game against Osasuna. In the aftermath, he was handed a two-match ban.
🇫🇷 @KMbappe 🤝 @Endrick 🇧🇷
🆕 INSIDE TRAINING 👉 RM Play— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 22, 2025
Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba also returned to action against Manchester City after recovering from their respective injuries.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup vs Girona
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois will continue to be the main man between the sticks after enjoying a relaxed game against Manchester City.
Defence
Raul Asencio produced a phenomenal performance against Manchester City, further solidifying his position as an integral part of the defence. He will likely team up with Rudiger, who returned to the Real Madrid lineup against the Citizens.
Midfield
Aurelien Tchouameni is likely to retain his place after moving from defence to his natural midfield role against Manchester City. Dani Ceballos has grown into an indisputable starter after enjoying a stellar run of late, and the reputation has only gone up after his sublime display against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz is expected to fill the void of Jude Bellingham in the Real Madrid lineup.
Attack
Kylian Mbappe will look to replicate his performance against Manchester City. The Frenchman is currently three goals behind Robert Lewandowski in the race for the Golden Boot. The Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes will complete the attacking trident.
