Real Madrid vs Girona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-29 15:15.
Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, their first loss for 170 days, did not go down well with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who accused his team-mates of coming out “asleep, without intensity and aggression”. Manager Carlo Ancelotti was more philosophical in his assessment, stating “the defeat doesn’t hurt us too much”, largely due to the fact Madrid had already guaranteed a place in the knockouts.
That allowed Ancelotti to rest players, and some of those rested could return here against Girona as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the La Liga (LL) campaign (W10, D1). After losing the last home H2H 2-1 in February 2019, Los Blancos can’t take anything for granted, especially with Karim Benzema likely absent again as they look to extend a nine-game LL unbeaten home run (W7, D2).
Girona are battling hard to get out of the relegation zone after promotion last term and are beginning to pick up more positive results, with a couple of recent draws keeping them in touch with their fellow bottom half sides. However, a poor record against teams that start this round in the top half (D1, L4) suggests this may be a long afternoon for them.
The White and Reds have struggled on the road in the league this term (D1, L4), but as all four of those defeats were by a one-goal margin, they may count themselves slightly unlucky not to have picked up a few more points. That also suggests they’ll make Madrid work hard for everything as they search for a first top-flight away win since March 2019.
Key battle: Courtois is still aiming for his first league clean sheet of the season, so having conceded one goal in each LL game this term should encourage Girona forward Cristhian Stuani to keep persisting as he’s bagged two of his three league goals this term after the 80th minute.
Hot streak: Slow-starting Girona are yet to lead a LL away game at half-time this term (HT: D2, L3).