Real Madrid vs Girona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-02-22 15:15.
[p]Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna last weekend allowed Barcelona to retake the lead in La Liga and there was more refereeing controversy when Jude Bellingham was given a straight red card for swearing. He’ll miss at least this clash, but manager Carlo Ancelotti is used to shuffling his pack given the injuries and suspensions he’s dealt with all season, so there’s a good chance he can mastermind the win required to avoid going four league matches without a victory for the first time since October 2018 (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]While Madrid believe referees are targeting them unfairly, other clubs want Los Blancos sanctioned for their behaviour towards officials. It’s a controversy Madrid could do without, but they showed it isn’t affecting them too much by beating Manchester City 3-1 here in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Wednesday, a result which came on the back of a five-match unbeaten run in home La Liga games (W4, D1).[/p]
[p]At this stage last season, Girona were charging towards UCL qualification and maintaining an outside chance of the title, but losing four of their last five in La Liga (W1) highlights how much they’ve struggled this term. Still in the hunt for European qualification, staying there will need them to find some form as they’ve won just one of their last seven competitive games (L6), most recently losing 2-1 to Getafe.[/p]
[p]Los Blanquivermells have only won three away league games all season (D3, L6) although interestingly all three saw them keep a clean sheet. They’ve never achieved that feat in an away H2H after conceding an average of 3.2 goals per game across their previous five such games (W1, D1, L3), while they have only won one of their last six visits to teams from Comunidad de Madrid in La Liga (L5).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Kylian Mbappé’s midweek hat-trick against Manchester City took his tally to six goals across his last four games, with two of the last four of those coming before the 20th minute. Ex-Madrid defender Miguel Gutiérrez assisted the opener the last time Girona beat his former club (W 4-2, April 2023) while he has five goal contributions in La Liga this term (G1, A4).[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Girona are winless this term in La Liga after conceding first (D2, L8).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]