Date: February 23, 2025
Match: Real Madrid VS Girona
Time: 10:15 AM ET / 4:15 PM CET
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Competition: La Liga, Round 25
The Santiago Bernabeu prepares to witness Real Madrid against Girona in a La Liga match on February 23, 2025 as Spanish champions meet an ascended Girona team. The Matchday 25 contest brings together Real Madrid who fight Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for the league title alongside Girona who aim for a top-six position after their successful 2023/24 season. This matchup holds critical prospects since the teams recently obtained important outcomes from their European and domestic leagues.
Team Overview and Recent Form
Real Madrid: The Title Contenders
The Spanish league’s second-placed team approaching this match is Real Madrid with 51 points from 24 matches (15 wins and 6 draws and 3 losses). Real Madrid occupy a vulnerable position in the standings because Barcelona leads through better head-to-head results while Atletico Madrid stays a single point behind them in third place. Under Carlo Ancelotti’s leadership this 2024/25 season has produced both intense memorable wins and unexpected performance lapses for Real Madrid’s team. Los Blancos displayed their top-class form by defeating Manchester City 3-1 in the Champions League knockout round while struggling to tie Osasuna 1-1 in their last match.
Los Blancos show tremendous attacking strength in La Liga because they have scored 29 more goals than their opponents (+29) while collecting 28 points from eleven matches at home. Kylian Mbappe, with 17 goals, leads a star-studded frontline alongside Vinicius Junior (8 goals, 5 assists) and the suspended Jude Bellingham (7 goals, 6 assists). Antonio Rudiger along with Lucas Vazquez and David Alaba returned from injury-based absences to strengthen their defensive setup yet Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao will not be available due to extended injury recovery.
Real Madrid maintains a mixed competitive record of W-D-W-W-L since their most recent matches in different tournaments but show signs of perseverance during challenging conditions. Real Madrid drew benefits from their latest 3-0 victory at Montilivi against Girona on December 7, 2024 which Bellingham and Guler and Mbappe scored in. The lack of Bellingham creates tactical ambiguity for Ancelotti who needs to prevent his players from taking the match for granted.
Girona: The European Dreamers
In La Liga Girona occupies position number 10 with 31 points collected from their 24 games (9 wins and 4 draws and 11 losses). The Catalan side’s breathtaking success in finishing third during the 2023/24 season led them to Champions League qualification but they now struggle to match their former performance. Girona’s current season has displayed conflicting results because they have obtained only 12 points during their 12 away games. Recent victories followed a succession of seven losses extending to all competitions which signal their potential difficulty in competing with other elite teams in Spain.
Girona continues its fight for European competition by maintaining a four-point difference to Rayo Vallecano who occupy sixth position. The powerful offense of Michel’s team relies on Bryan Salvatierra with three goals and three assists together with Cristhian Stuani who has four goals alongside one assist but their recent struggles since the injuries of key players Viktor Tsygankov and Yaser Asprilla have hurt their advancing pace. The defenders conceded 35 goals which ranks the team at 12th place in the standings but opens opportunities for Real Madrid attackers to penetrate their weak points.
The current match results for Girona consist of L-L-L-W-L while their original season performance was in sharp contrast. At the Bernabeu they suffered their worst defeat of the year when Real Madrid defeated them 4-0 in February 2024. The 2-1 victory Girona achieved at the Bernabeu in February 2019 serves as evidence that they possess the capability to perform against unlikely odds.
Tactical Analysis
Real Madrid’s Approach
Ancelotti will use a 4-3-3 tactical scheme throughout the match but Brahim Diaz will fill Bellingham’s position due to his absence. Real Madrid will equip their new lineup with Courtois as the goalkeeper and Vazquez, Rudiger, Asencio, Garcia and Camavinga, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrygo on the field to unite experienced veterans with youthful energy. Luka Modric brings expert ball control and match control abilities to Real Madrid’s gameplay yet Eduardo Camavinga enters the midfield to interact with Girona’s game tempo.
Real Madrid depends on Mbappe’s goal-scoring abilities and Vinicius’s attacking play to create their attacking system. La Liga acknowledges Vinicius and Mbappe as their league’s top two scorers because the Frenchman has netted 17 times while also creating many scoring opportunities for his teammate Vinicius through 15.2 shots per game. His defensive return helps Real Madrid maintain a solid defensive record of 1.0 goals conceded per game yet Vazquez now faces additional challenges defending Girona’s attacking wingers because Carvajal is absent from the team.
Real Madrid should control most of the game through their possession statistics (61% this season) while pushing their teammates upfield to create turnovers. The Champions League first-leg defeat to Manchester City turned around into a win for Real Madrid because of their ability to adapt under high-pressure situations a thing Ancelotti relies heavily on.
Girona’s Strategy
The preferred 4-2-3-1 football formation of Michel will position Gazzaniga between the sticks and Arnau along with Lopez and Krejci and Blind in central defense backed by Romeu and Martin in midfield before Gazzaniga and Tsygankov and Miguel and Ruiz operate as attacking players in the front. The creative attack of Girona depends heavily on Ivan Martin and Viktor Tsygankov for production because Herrera is doubtful and Asprilla has been sidelined. Against Madrid Stuani and Abel Ruiz position themselves as center forwards to convert any limited scoring opportunities against the Madrid defenders.
The Girona team will adopt a defensive approach by staying tight while countering against opposing attacks. Girona demonstrates solid ball possession skills at 57% and efficient passing at 88.18% while their dozen away matches have seen them allow 17 goals which reveals their defensive weakness. Michel has instructed left-back Arnau Martinez and right-back Daley Blind to position closer to the center to reduce space for Vinicius and Mbappe. Miguel Gutierrez shows his playmaking skills through four assists since he quickly moves the ball forward which defines the offensive strategy.
Girona faces an immense challenge against Real Madrid because they convert few goals (1.3 per game) compared to their La Liga ranking of seventh while Madrid blocks 8.9 shots per match which positions them fourth in the league. A clinical finishing ability will be essential if Girona wants to survive another loss in their bid for European competition.
Key Battles
Kylian Mbappe vs. David Lopez
Mbappe uses his speed and positional variation against Lopez to challenge the elder Girona center back. The aging experience of Lopez (33 years old) provides value yet leaves him susceptible to spaces Mbappe creates when he departs his position or makes runs forward.
Vinicius Junior vs. Arnau Martinez
Vinicius successfully maintains possession through dribbling while facing off against Martinez successfully 57.1% of the time. The full-back displays quality performances during this season but stopping La Liga’s most threatening winger will be an extremely challenging task.
Eduardo Camavinga vs. Ivan Martin
Camavinga brings a combination of physical strength and ball retention (1,075 recoveries) to the game but Martin relies on his passing abilities. Once Girona loses control of their midfield center, their offensive potential will slow down.
Luka Modric vs. Oriol Romeu
Modric brings his 90.02% precise passing ability to challenge Romeu’s defensive fighting style. Romeu needs to maintain total control of the midfield while the Croatian exploits enemy topography to strip the Girona team of balls.
Historical Context
Since 2017 Girona has faced Real Madrid in 11 competitive matches where the team from Madrid won seven games and lost only three with one draw. The Madrid club’s current dominance in La Liga shows three consecutive victories with a clean sheet and two respectively decisive victories against Girona at the Bernabeu last year and this year. Real Madrid have successfully defeated Girona in two home La Liga matches since their first encounter while scoring more than four times during each victory.
Girona created a football history by defeating Real Madrid 2-1 in a game that took place at the Bernabeu in February 2019. The double-goal achievement of Cristhian Stuani and Portu at that match remains a dangerous fantasy against Madrid’s current exceptional form. Throughout their last three matches at the Madrid capital, Girona suffered 10 goal setbacks indicating their substantial challenges in the match.
Player Spotlight
Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid’s attack has undergone a dramatic change following the arrival of their French international superstar. Since joining La Liga Mbappe has achieved 17 goals and provided 2 assists while maintaining a 55.31% conversion rate from his shots and displaying essential playing tendencies which make him the controlling influence on matches. Girona should brace themselves because Mbappe demonstrates decisive abilities during his heading against Osasuna and shooting against Manchester City.
Girona: Cristhian Stuani
At 38, Stuani remains Girona’s talisman. While only 21 years old this season Mbappe has made 4 goals and 1 assist a reality and his aerial game has proven successful at 50% while confusing Real Madrid’s defense with his approach. The decisive moments will be shaped by Stuani’s experience because Girona needs good performances from him to get a result.
Injury Report and Squad News
Real Madrid:
Out: Jude Bellingham (suspended, 2 games), Dani Carvajal (knee), Eder Militao (knee).
Returning: Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, David Alaba (from injury).
Squad: Courtois, Lunin, Gonzalez; Alaba, Vazquez, Vallejo, Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Asencio; Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim.
Girona:
Sedadempain: Viktor Tsygankov (injury), Yaser Asprilla (injury).
Dtoutful: Yangel Herrera (fitness).
Back for Sebastian: Gabriel Misehouy (from bench).
Pitch XI: Gazzaniga; Arnau, Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Romeu, Martin; Gil, Tsygankov (should be available), Miguel; Ruiz.
Statistical Breakdown
Real Madrid: 52 goals created (2nd), 23 allowed (4th), +29 goal gap (2nd), 15.2 shot xG per game (2nd), 90.02% passing accuracy.
Girona: 32 goals scored (7th), 35 conceded (12th), -3 goal ditlferential (9th), 10.4 shots per game conceded (11th), 88.18% pass completion.
Head-to-Head (Last 5): Real Madrid 2-1-2, scoring 1.6 goals, conceding 1.4; Girona 1-0-4, scoring 1.0 goals, conceding 2.0.
Predictions
Scoreline: Real Madrid 2-1 Girona
The combined strength and home turf position of Real Madrid should drive them to victory in this game yet Girona displays enough grit to make a predicament for their opponents. The Real Madrid attack will find success through Mbappe and Vinicius duo as Girona’s defense weakens while Stuani or Ruiz sound the warning bell for Girona defense. The predicted 2-1 Madrid victory matches the betting market which gives 8.50 odds to this exact result (based on LeagueLane analysis).
Alternative Outcomes
A clear sheet victory (2-0) for Real Madrid might be possible when Rudiger leads the defense because Madrid stopped Girona in three out of their last four matchups.
While Girona possesses counterattacks and Real Madrid occasionally makes defense errors a 1-1 draw seems unlikely considering how the hosts are playing right now.
Key Factors
Bellingham’s absence makes Brahim Diaz needed to produce or Girona will exploit the midfield.
The on-target percentage of 50% from Girona attacks requires improvement to create problems for Courtois in net.
The mighty 76,000-person home crowd at The Bernabeu creates potential moments of victory for Madrid during close matches.
Broader Implications
The fight for the title prompts Real Madrid to demand a complete three-point victory. The Madrid club faces enhanced danger from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid as Barcelona has a favorable upcoming fixture schedule (Atletico plays in the Champions League round of 16) and may gain motivation from a defeat by Real Madrid. Victory before European play will provide much-needed spirit for the team who hopes to continue their participation in the European competition.
The current season for Girona faces critical threats. Given a victorious outcome Girona could strengthen their chance to reach European competition but if they fall short it could hurt their league and Champions League position versus Liverpool and Mallorca. The current situation of Michel’s employment seems secure yet continued lackluster performance might alter his professional outlook.
Conclusion
On February 23, 2025 Real Madrid will face Girona in a La Liga match that showcases traditional club power against rising ambition and top league strength against challenger spirit. Madrid holds top status in La Liga because Mbappe shines with Ancelotti guiding the team. Girona’s determination along with Michel’s strategic approach makes a clear victory for Real Madrid unlikely. The match will be a close contest but the enthusiastic Madrid crowd should see their team win 2-1. This important match holds enormous significance as the season intensifies its competition dynamics for both clubs.
