Real Madrid Vs. Girona Preview: Ancelotti Goes All Out For Game Of ...
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Real Madrid will go all out for the game of the season against Girona.
Getty ImagesReal Madrid will go all out by fielding its strongest possible side, injuries considered, when Girona visit the Bernabeu on Saturday for what is being touted as the biggest game of the season in La Liga.
Michel's Catalan outfit is the surprise package of 2023/2024. After finishing midtable last term, Girona is mounting an unexpected title challenge and has already beaten FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for the first time in club history while sitting top of the pack for considerable periods.
After Girona slightly slipped up by drawing against Real Sociedad, Madrid returned to the summit where it currently enjoys a two-point cushion.
Obviously by notching a win then, and managing to repeat a 3-0 victory in Montilivi in September, Madrid can extend that advantage to five points.
Once again, though, Los Blancos head coach Ancelotti refuses to except that the match will be decisive with plenty of road left until the conclusion of the season.
"Whoever wins tomorrow takes advantage, but the league is very long," he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"We're both in a good position and I don't think it's going to decide anything. One of the two can take advantage over the others, this is the most important thing.
"I don't think it [the league] will be decided tomorrow, it will be later on. We have a high score and we can both get to 80 points and win," Ancelotti concluded on this.
Still the Italian is evidently aware of the importance of the tie and will field what many could perceive to be his strongest XI with injuries in mind.
It entails Andriy Lunin in goal, with a back line of Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni playing center back, and Dani Carvajal the right back.
In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos form a central pairing flanked by Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde.
Up top, Vinicius Jr. returns from the "cervical issue" that forced him to be pulled from the line up minutes before kick-off against Atleti last Sunday, with Rodrygo still managing to keep his place despite a goal drought and the impressive form of Brahim Diaz.
Real Madrid Vs. Girona First XI: Lunin; Mendy, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Carvajal; Camaving, Kroos, Bellingham, Valverde, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo