Real Madrid tests its reaction against Girona
Ancelotti’s men, after the first defeat of the season, hope to consolidate their lead without Benzema against a rival in relegation
MADRID, 29 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid, once again without Frenchman Karim Benzema, is looking to leave behind this Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu (4:15 p.m./Movistar LaLiga) the first defeat of the season and settle into the leadership of LaLiga Santander against Girona, a team that goes to Chamartín in relegation positions and willing to take advantage of the white stumble.
After 14 wins and two draws, the second best start to the season in history for the Madrid team, the winning streak of Carlo Ancelotti’s men was broken by the lack of competitive tension in the Champions League, where they have already qualified for the round of 16. against RB Leipzig (3-2).
“We have evaluated what has happened, we have seen the errors, which have not been in attitude, but in positioning from set pieces. We have to think about what we have to do in these four games before the break, it is an important moment in the season. We want to get to the break in good condition”, warned the Italian coach.
Girona, Celtic, Rayo Vallecano and Cádiz, a priori affordable rivals, await the white team before the players head to Qatar, and before that they want to leave the leadership of the domestic competition well tied. With 31 points, he leads the table with a three-point advantage over the azulgranas, so he cannot relax.
Even so, he has not yet stumbled in LaLiga, where only a draw against Osasuna at the beginning of October has ‘spoiled’ the almost immaculate streak of ten wins at the start of the league season. Now, they will seek to extend it against a rival that managed to storm the Bernabéu on their last visit, in 2019, with goals from Cristhian Stuani and Portu.
Ancelotti brings back important men in his scheme such as the Croatian Luka Modric and the Uruguayan Fede Valverde, as well as Dani Ceballos and Mariano. On the other hand, he will not be able to count on his attacking reference, Frenchman Karim Benzema, who will miss his third consecutive match.
Thus, everything indicates that Rodrygo will be the replacement for the Ballon d’Or in the attacking line, despite having spent “a bad night” with vomiting. Vinícius and Valverde will a priori occupy the other two places, although Marco Asensio could repeat ownership after starting the duel against the Germans.
Opposite, Girona needs to break a series of six games without winning – four defeats and two draws – to try to get out of the burning zone. Míchel’s men, with nine units, started the day second from last just one point from the save places, which could be boosted if they manage to make a splash again in Concha Espina.
However, the Catalan side have only added one point away from the 15 that have been put into play so far, all despite the fact that they have 15 goals to their credit, more than half of the teams in the category .
Defender Juanpe Ramírez and midfielders Ibrahima Kébé, Borja García and Samu Sáiz, who have reported muscle discomfort this week, will miss the duel at the Bernabéu, a venue to which left-back Miguel Gutiérrez, transferred by Real Madrid last year, will return summer, and the Brazilian midfielder Reinier Jesus, on loan from the Whites.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Modric, Kroos; Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinicius.
GIRONA: Gazzaniga; Arnau, Bueno, David López, Javi Hernández, Miguel Gutiérrez; Herrera, Romeo, Aleix García, Riquelme; and Castilians.
–REFEREE: Melero Lopez (C.Andaluz).
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
–TIME: 4.15pm/Movistar LaLiga.
