Real Madrid are away at Girona on Saturday in a surprise early season clash between La Liga's top two at Estadi Montilivi. The Catalan hosts are ahead by a single point coming into this weekend's encounter which is an opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti's side to go top and potentially end the hosts' unbeaten start to the campaign. Real won 2-0 against Las Palmas in midweek while Girona edged Villarreal to keep up their impressive pace. Barcelona could go top of the Spanish topflight temporarily on Friday when they face Sevilla but it could be the Gironistes or Los Blancos back at the summit by the close of play on Saturday. Interestingly, Girona are unbeaten in three against Real in La Liga with a 4-2 win last term and the Spanish giants winning just two of their last six against the tricky Catalan outfit.
Here's our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, September 30 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadi Municipal de Montilivi -- Girona, Catalonia, Spain
- TV: ESPN+
- Odds: Girona +260; Draw: +280; Real -110
Team news
Girona: Bernardo Espinosa, Borja Garcia, Joel Roca, Ricard Artero and Toni Villa are all out so Artem Dovbyk should get the chance to add to his two goals from his last two appearances. Yangel Herrera should also start for Michel who could keep the same XI that started the midweek win over Villarreal which featured Savio and Ivan Martin in the middle.
Potential Girona XI: Gazzaniga; A Martinez, E Garcia, D Lopez, Gutierrez; Tsygankov, Herrera, A Garcia, Martin, Savio; Dovbyk.
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Real: David Alaba is the latest injury blow for Ancelotti while Antonio Rudiger is also not 100% after a knock against Las Palmas. Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and Arda Guler are already out but Vinicius Junior is now back and should start. Dani Carvajal returned midweek and should be ready to start with Nacho moving central.
Potential Real XI: Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo.
Prediction
This one promises to be a tight affair and may well end up even. Girona certainly have the quality to hurt and upset Real although the visiting attack is transformed by Vini Jr. being available once again. It is tough to call with a draw and both sides scoring not a bad shout. Pick: Girona 1, Real 1.
