LaLiga Preview: Real Madrid host Girona for a battle of the top two

Matchday 24 could be a decisive one in the 2023/24 LaLiga EA Sports title race, as the top two teams will go head-to-head when Real Madrid welcome Girona FC to the Bernabéu on Saturday.

Just two points separate Los Blancos and Los Blanquivermells, making this an absolutely huge clash.

There are several other important fixtures taking place across Spain this weekend, starting with Cádiz CF vs Real Betis on Friday night.

This is an Andalusian derby and it’s a crucial game for the home side given that they have now gone half a league season without winning, as their last three-point haul came back in Matchday 4.

There have, though, been positive signs under new coach Mauricio Pellegrino, as Cádiz CF have drawn both his games so far.

The first two fixtures of Saturday both take place in the Basque Country, starting with Deportivo Alavés vs Villarreal CF as coach Luis García Plaza takes on his former club. Later, Real Sociedad and CA Osasuna meet in San Sebastián for a match between two clubs with very different medical reports.

Whereas La Real are missing several of their usual starters due to injury, CA Osasuna have a clean bill of health and will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss to RC Celta last weekend.

At 6.30pm CET on Saturday, it’s time for the blockbuster game of the weekend as Girona FC make the trip to the Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid.

The surprise title contenders have only lost one league game this term, but that was against Real Madrid and it was an emphatic 3-0 reverse. However, the Catalan side have a good record against Los Blancos in general and have only lost three of these teams’ seven previous LALIGA EA SPORTS meetings, even drawing 1-1 and winning 2-1 on their past two visits to the Bernabéu. It’s anyone’s guess as to how this weekend’s encounter plays out.

Afterwards, there’s still time for one more game on Saturday, as UD Las Palmas host an in-form Valencia CF side. Los Che have won five of their past six matches in league play and will hope to keep that form up on the Canary Islands.

Four more fixtures follow on Sunday, the first of which is Getafe CF vs RC Celta. The visitors will travel to the Coliseum full of confidence after turning in what was surely their best performance of the season last weekend, as Jørgen Strand Larsen, Luca de la Torre and Anastasios Douvikas scored in a 3-0 victory at CA Osasuna.

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RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano is next up and the islanders will want revenge after conceding a 102nd minute equaliser to Radamel Falcao from the penalty spot when these sides met earlier in the campaign, in what was a memorable 2-2 draw.

Sevilla FC will also be out for some revenge against Atlético de Madrid, after losing to the capital city side 1-0 twice in the past two months. Both of those games were in Madrid, but now Sevilla FC get to take on Los Colchoneros in front of their own fans at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

The Sunday night game takes place at the Estadi Olímpic in Montjuïc, as FC Barcelona face off against Granada CF. Although the Andalusian side only have 12 points, one of those points was earned against Barça when they scored after just 17 seconds on their way to a 2-2 draw. Xavi will certainly hope for a better start from his players this time around.

On Monday night, the final game of the round takes place in the south of Spain, where UD Almería will meet Athletic Club. For coach Gaizka Garitano, this encounter with his former club is a crucial one as he aims to end a run of three straight defeats and finally secure what would be Los Rojiblancos’ first victory of the season.